Attitude of Gratitude

There is an old church hymn called “Count your Blessings.” The words go something like this…

When upon life's billows You are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged Thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings Name them one by one, And it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.

Chorus:
Count your blessings Name them one by one. Count your blessings See what God hath done. Count your blessings Name them one by one. Count your many blessings See what God hath done.

It is hard to count your blessings and be thankful in difficult times. Yet, it is exactly when we engage in such action that our problems and difficulties are put in perspective as we realize how much God has indeed blessed us. Pastor Mark Batterson from National Community Church has written in his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day that followers of Jesus should not let what is wrong with them celebrate what is right with God.

The holiday of Thanksgiving is really about the worship of God. It is the time when we stop to count our blessings even in the difficult times. By taking the focus off of ourselves and our problems and turning our focus to God and thanking him for his many blessings our attitudes change. We develop an attitude of gratitude.

Perhaps one of the more modern worship songs sums this attitude change and call to thank God even when the storms of life rage. The popular worship song “Blessed Be Your Name” written by Matt Redman says:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name.

Followers of Jesus count their blessings in the good times and the bad always recognizing we are a blessed people. That is what Thanksgiving is about.