Count God’s Blessings, Don’t Discount Them

    Be aggressively thankful. When it comes to living your life, an important issue is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. Thanksgiving is an attitude of a productive life. No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. The person who isn't thankful for what he's got isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get. Ingratitude never finishes.

    "Attitudes sour in the life that is closed to thankfulness. Soon selfish attitudes take over, closing life to better things" (C. Neil Strait). The person who forgets the language of gratitude will never find himself on speaking terms with happiness. Thanksgiving, you will find, creates power in your life because it opens the generators of your heart to respond gratefully, to receive joyfully and to react creatively. "There are three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday's mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow's problems and ingratitude for today's blessing" (William Ward).

    Know you are blessed. If you can't be satisfied with what you've reached…at least be thankful for what you've escaped. I remember several years ago driving to dinner, completely absorbed in thought about my latest book.  So focused I drove right through a red light at a major intersection in the city I live.

     After being greeted by several horns and one man who wanted to let me know with his finger that “I was number one”.  I pulled into a parking lot and gave thanks to God for His protection…even when I’m stupid. 

    We all have a lot to be thankful for. We all have a lot to be thankful for!!!

    Thank God and count your blessings at every opportunity. The words "think" and "thank" come from the same Latin root. If we take time to think more, we will undoubtedly thank more. When you start to find fault with all you see, it is time to start looking for what's wrong with you.

    I like what Dwight L. Moody said, he said: "Be humble or you'll stumble." There’s a connection between pride and ingratitude. Henry Ward Beecher pointed out: "A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves." Don't be a person who has a highly developed instinct for being unhappy. Instead, "be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always" (Rom. 12:12, LB). The best rule is, whatever God gives, gratefully receive. If we spend our time thanking God for the good things, there won't be any time left to complain over the bad.

    Take some time today and sincerely consider how many things you have to be thankful for.  Consider writing them down and keeping that list easily available to you. As you do, I guarantee you’ll find creative ideas spring forth from the discussion you are having with yourself. One of the most creative ways to generate momentum and opportunities is to sit down and write a thank you note, place a call, or send a text or e-mail to people who have influenced your life.  Try and do this to as many people as you genuinely can.

    There’s nothing worse the earth produces than an ungrateful man. Our real prosperity lies in being thankful. Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on the earth. Kind words don't cost much yet they accomplish much.

    Count God's blessings, don't discount them. Pray this, "God, you've given so much to me, give me one more thing—a grateful heart.