The Prepared Heart, Part Two

“Bring a Glad Heart - Gratitude”

Most Christian homes have a routine around the dinner table that includes some form of prayer. For some it is a repeated prayer, said day after day. For others it varies according to the one leading the prayer, or the events of the day. Regardless of your family’s routine – all prayers at mealtime inevitably include thanksgiving; offering God our gratitude for His provision. Christians are to be a “thankful” people.

A concordance search of the phrase “give thanks” will produce nearly 100 references in Scripture, here are just a few …

1 Chronicles 16:8

8 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples.

1 Chronicles 16:34

34 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalms 7:17

17 I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness

And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalms 54:6

6 Willingly I will sacrifice to You;

I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

18 …in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

One has to notice Paul’s instruction there in 1 Thessalonians concerning giving thanks … this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Living a life filled with gratitude is a vital part of living a life in the center of God’s will. Few things will do more to prepare your heart for the blessings of God than to lead your heart to thanksgiving.

So let’s try that today. Start with this pattern – you probably know the song – count your many blessings; name them one by one. What a thrill you might have tonight at your dinner table if you undertake this endeavor … Dad, Mom, child by child - - each of you taking a few minutes to count your blessings; naming them one by one. It can be fun to turn this into a craft for the younger kids. Encourage them to take some paper and crayons and draw a picture of some of the blessings that they are most thankful for.

For us who have received the greatest blessing of all, a new life in Christ (our Passover Lamb) through His sacrifice for our sins - - try and imagine how you could picture that. Your image would have to include the reality of the darkness of your sin, the desperation of your lost condition, and the pending wrath of God that rested on you. And then you’ll have to find a way to picture the purity and holiness of the Son of God, the perfect Lamb. You mustn’t overlook the agony of the cross as all of your darkness, all of your desperation, and all of the wrath of God was poured out upon Him, paying the full price for your sin. And then you’ll have to try and illustrate the matchless wonder of His grace and promise for you for today, tomorrow and all of eternity.

I’m no artist, but my mind is filled even now with the reality of His salvation for me. It is a picture of joy. It is a picture of peace. It is a picture of love and forgiveness. It is a picture that I am so very thankful for.

And now my heart is filled with gratitude. My heart is glad.

Grace and Peace,