 A gracious friend offered me their old desk. It’s a beautiful, white set up complete with a bookcase. Excitedly, I began to pull my Bible study books I had been keeping in our family bookshelf into my own work desk. Next I reached for my old Bibles and devotional books, anything really I knew I’d be pulling from for writing projects in the future. Out of all my nerdy treasures, I stumbled across a devotional book I had read through in college and tumbling out from the worn pages were some old prayer cards. Unable to resist combing back over the over-a-decade-old cries of my heart, I scanned the lists. There were names and specifics for what I was asking God for. There were sins I was struggling with. Tears began to pool up in my eyes as I realized that so much of what I had prayed for then, God had answered. It was wild! There were requests like to “bless my future husband and family” while I now am married with three beautiful girls. I saw where I asked that God would allow me to “write a book someday for young girls” and to “let my music and writing reach many ears and eyes for the Gospel” while I simultaneously stared at copies of my books, have my next ghostwriting project in the works, and am planning worship sets and packing up my guitar for a women’s retreat this weekend. I don’t tell you this so you think, “Wow, good for you Kaley.” I’m sharing because I am ashamed that I had forgotten. As the years have passed so also has it slipped from my mind that God has fulfilled so much. I am walking everyday present day on the foundations of a past answered prayer. Instead of living in gratitude for that, I have been grumbling to God about my recent anxiety and insomnia flareups. My mind has been consumed with worry instead of praise. Do you ever find yourself in a state of grumbling instead of gratitude too? Aren’t we all prone to forget what the Lord has done? This is probably why the word “remember” is one of the most frequently used words in the Bible. And why there are verses like Ephesians 5:20 that command us to “always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We as humans are naturally bent toward negativity and, if we aren’t intentional about reconfiguring our mind to dwell on the goodness of God, we will find ourselves missing our blessings for our burdens. 1 Samuel 12:14 instructs us to “be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” Here are two quick ways we can shift from grumbling to gratitude…  1. Take a look at how far God has brought you.If you have old prayer journals or notes on your phone, take a glance back as far as you can go. If you don’t, try recalling old memories or prayers. Take into account the answered prayers and the progress, no matter how great or small. 2. Give thanks in advance for all that God will do. Step one shows us what He’s already done. And, if God has done it before, He can do it again. I’m particularly believing this over my anxiety. He’s delivered me from the panic and sleepless nights in the past, I know He still can today. I just have to trust that, until He comes through, He’ll meet me in the messy middle. I have to give thanks for all He’s going to do through this because I know it’s not over until it’s good. What about you? What scenario have you been grumbling about that you could flip by giving thanks for how God is going to use it? Thankfulness is an intentional choice. If we don’t choose it, negativity chooses us. If we don’t live from our victory in Christ, we take on a victim mentality. So, decide today (before we get to November and the “Thanksgiving” theme takes over) to make it a practice to take a glance at your past, present and future and tell God, “Thank you.” Write down specifically what you’re praying for so you can continue to give Him praise. You never know where or how you might see those age-old prayers be answered. Think about it:
Our Prayer: Lord, Sometimes our “thank you” is out of rejoicing for a prayer we have seen answered and others it’s a sacrifice of praise and practice of trusting you as we wait for you to move. No matter where we are today, we give thanks. Help us fix our minds on our blessings and the truth that you are working all things for good. We thank you that you woke us up today, there is breath in our lungs, and that we are so loved by You. For that and all we have been given beyond, we enter into your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise. In Jesus name we pray, Amen This blog was written by Kaley Rivera Thompson. She is the owner of this blog, an author, worship leader and speaker. She's always down for a cup of coffee or a good hike. You can find out more about her on this website www.kriverathompson.com or on her instagram, @kriverathompson.
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