A dream woke me from a deep sleep the other night. I rarely remember my dreams, but this one stuck with me because of the message of thankfulness enclosed within it. I wrestled with what to do with it, but God gives us these words for a purpose.
The Dream
I found myself back in the days of Christ in a market area. In the vision, I saw a person sitting by a gate. Voices, feet scurrying and animal noises filled the surrounding air, but he could see nothing. His sight was gone. As he sat alone, the noise grew as cheers erupted from the crowd near him, but he had no clue what was happening.
Everything stopped, and a hand reached down and touched the man. A voice asked if he wanted to see again and a whispered yes escaped his lips. As the hand lifted from his face, the man’s eyes fluttered open, the world rushing back into sharp focus. The man sprang to his feet, his gaze darting everywhere as he explored the area, his newly gained sight absorbing every detail. He hugged people and danced as he ran towards home to tell everyone what had happened. Jesus then turned to me. Life returned to a new normal for the man as the memory of the miracle faded.
Would you thank me for such a miracle? The words startled me awake.
Thankfulness
Gratitude is woven throughout Scripture, reminding us again and again to give thanks in every circumstance. It is a central part of our faith, our response to God’s goodness and grace.
But how quickly does our gratitude fade when our focus shifts from Christ back to our daily lives? I believe thankfulness is such a key element in our faith; it helps us to fix our eyes on Jesus and all the things his hand provides for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Gratitude is vital to God because it aligns human hearts with his will, acknowledging him as the source of all blessings.
Taking our Eyes off Christ
Gratitude is a direct acknowledgment that all good things come from Him, rather than personal effort. It also shows us that God works all things for our good. When we forget these things, pride, envy, and discontentment find their way into our hearts and then the grumbling sets in.
My Ebenezer to Thankfulness
Years ago, our car skidded off the road into the grassy median. The car lost control and, by the grace of God, missed all the signs and obstacles in that median. It was a miracle that we did not die, or at least sustain injuries. We pulled out of the median and parked on the side of the road to allow our hearts to stop racing and to offer a word of thanks to God for keeping us safe.
As time passes, the wonder of the miracle diminishes, and gratitude wanes. Within days, I started yelling at the traffic in front of me again or was upset that someone’s blog got more comments than mine. I forget the miracle that I’m still here as I look around me instead of looking up. That is when I began making it a daily habit of starting my day by offering prayers of thanksgiving. It helps me refocus on heavenly things instead of the earthly things.
Expressing gratitude can be tough during hard times. Can we maintain a grateful attitude even if we:
- have marriage problems?
- lose your job?
- experience a health crisis?
As each problem arises, when we look to Christ for the answers instead of trying to solve them ourselves, we can learn to give thanks in all circumstances as we trust God for the outcome. We can learn to look for the opportunities to thank God amid the trials.
Always Give Thanks
Without thankfulness, we risk growing proud and inwardly focused. Gratitude helps us maintain the proper connection to the source of all blessings. Focusing on what we lack is less important than remembering all that we possess, which is what gratitude helps us do. By giving thanks, it reminds us of how much we have. When we choose gratitude, our focus shifts from what we lack to what we have. In that shift, we experience a deeper, lasting joy. Our very existence is a testament to the merciful blessings of God.
That question from my dream still lingers with me:
Would you thank me for such a miracle?
Maybe the better question is: am I already living in answered prayers I’ve stopped noticing?
Prayer for Thankfulness
Dear Lord, I come to you today with a grateful heart. Sometimes I am slow to recognize your goodness, allowing complaining to overshadow my blessings. Please forgive me. Teach me to see your hand in both the small things and the big ones, in the food I eat, the air I breathe, and the challenges that help me grow.
Help me live today with an awareness of your presence. I choose gratitude in all circumstances, knowing your love endures forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Grace and Peace to you,
Yvonne M. Morgan is a Christian #author, #blogger, and #speaker. #BibleGatewayPartner
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
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I pray that I will continue to recognize His miracles and answers to prayers. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Thanks Melissa and blessings on your day too
A beautiful and encouraging reminder for us to remember from whom our blessings flow. I need to do better and your habit of giving thanks every morning is a good way. Thank you, Yvonne.
Thanks Katherine. It so easy to forget the thankfulness in our busy lives. Blessings to you
Such a good reminder to live in gratitude. Disappointment tends to cling more than gratitude. In discussing Heb. 12 this week we realized disappointment and frustration can be weights we need to shed to run our race. Gratitude is one way to throw off those weights that hinder us.
That’s a great way to think about Debbie. Thanks and blessings
Such a powerful article, Yvonne. Since we’ve experienced our own miracle with my husband’s heart journey and that he is still with us, I’m still in the “honeymoon” stage, so to speak, of gratefulness and awe for what the Lord has done. Because Mike is not supposed to be here, but he is. I pray to never take it for granted or forget how grateful and thankful we are that he’s been given more time on this earth and with us. Lord, help us to give thanks in all circumstances and to remember your goodness to us always.
That’s a perfect analogy and I pray you can always be thankful. Such an amazing miracle. Blessings
Thank you for this, Yvonne. I find myself complaining or getting irritated at people sometimes and I don’t always catch myself and refocus on God’s mercy and grace. And what a vivid challenge your dream was!
Thanks Stephen. It was a very clear message. Blessings
What a powerful dream, Yvonne!! I always feel so blessed when God chooses to speak to me through a dream. I’m praying for you as you process it!
Me too Jessica and humbled. Blessings my friend