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This week has been a struggle for me when it comes to thankfulness. From projects not going as I had hoped to a 2 1/2 hour dentist appointment to waiting for future plans/desires, I found myself grumping and complaining. Have you ever had the feeling like “Why can’t this just be easy?” It was one of those weeks.

Yet, that is the exact type of week that should be marked by thankfulness. Why? Because every week of life for the follower of Christ should be marked by thankfulness. Scripture calls us to embrace this perspective rather than an ungrateful heart. But, if you are like me, it is easy to fall into this ungrateful, negative attitude.

As it usually happens, it is during this week of struggle that I had many, many reminders about thankfulness. I got to speak to the Legacy elementary chapel about David, and many of the passages that I referenced were filled with commands of thanksgiving. Then I come to Wednesday night and we have a message about, you guessed it, reframing our present with thankfulness.

I wish I could say that it clicked on Wednesday, but it didn’t. I found myself growing ever frustrated and irritable on Thursday, only to get home to wonderfully cooked dinner and a relaxing night planned by my wife. It was in that moment that the Spirit really brought the conviction. It was as if He was saying, “See, look at the immense blessings that you enjoy and have to be thankful for, and you are upset that the drill bit that you were using was slightly too small and you had to spend 15 minutes finding the right one.”

Often, if we take time to evaluate our lack of thankfulness and complaining, we realize how silly we are being. I had spent the day getting easily upset over little things outside of my control, letting it control my attitude and my thinking, without ever considering the blessings that I was enjoying. I had let the focus shift entirely to myself, rather than reframing my thinking based on Biblical truth.

The passages that we covered on Wednesday flowed back into my head. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Paul is reminding us that we should have a spirit that is consistently embracing joy and thankfulness regardless of our situation. It should be the natural disposition of the follower of Christ because of who we are in Him and what He has done for us.

Another passage that we had covered was Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Thankfulness is not going to happen by accident; it happens by choice. It takes the decision to say no to the selfishness of complaining, and yes to the humility of thankfulness.

Friday was an amazing day. In spite of spending 2 1/2 hours at the dentist, I was thankful for the anesthetic for my mouth, the kindness of the doctor, and the great job that they were able to do. I was thankful for the rest I was able to enjoy in the afternoon, and the warm weather I got to enjoy in the evening while golfing.

But, to remind us of our lesson Wednesday, it requires the proper frame. Friday could have been a terrible day — my teeth hurt, my jaw hurt, I couldn’t hit the golf ball, I lost my ball marker — but it didn’t have to be. It is always our choice on whether or not we will embrace the frame of thankfulness or the frame of complaint.

Serving Together,

Pastor Derek