The attitude of gratitude
I always have enjoyed Thanksgiving. I was grateful for all the food. Since we only had turkey once a year, I never tired of it. It was a great day of thanksgiving, although, it didn’t work out so well for the turkey. We really see the power of gratitude when we see at the raising of Lazarus when Jesus begins his prayer with, “I thank thee Father that thou hearest me always.” You will notice that gratitude precedes requests. That is where we have gotten the prayers backwards. We ask for something as if we had to pry it from the deity either through pleading or demanding. God does not ever withhold your good. It is your job to accept it as already present. Jesus said,
“When you pray believing, you shall have what you believe.” Jesus had no doubt that he could bring Lazarus out of the tomb. Are you not born of the same Father?
Styles of clothing have surely changed since the days of the pilgrims, as they will in future societies, but gratitude will ever remain one of the highest forms of love. The more we can express gratitude the more we can live the life we are meant to live. It may be hard to feel gratitude when you turn on the news and hear nothing more than negativity. In that case I have a suggestion to make to you. Try not watching the news for one full day. If you make it one day, try two days and eventually a week. At the end of a week, you will find that nothing has changed except you. If you will allow yourself to be free of the negativity, you will also find you can be free and grateful for the peace of mind for not being battered with lack, loss and limitation on a daily basis.
Jesus had much more to deal with than you and I. His life was threatened around every bend, yet he could express gratitude for answered prayer. Not many of us could stand outside the tomb and express confidence that we could do what we said we could do, but confidence is what we need to heal our disease, to right the ship of destiny and eliminate negativity in our life. The surest avenue for confidence is gratitude. The attitude of gratitude gives shape to your desire, wither it is health, prosperity, or wellbeing.
We don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to give gratitude. Set the tone for your day by invoking gratitude for the day yet unfolded. Expressing your gratitude will change conditions, raise expectations, and bring more cheer into your life.
Say to yourself, “I am thankful for this day the Lord hast made and I will be glad in it. I receive my good knowing God gives freely. Love and appreciation abound in my heart.
God is Love and Loving You Right Now!
(The Rev. Dr. Walt Sharer is minister at Bishop Church of
Religious Science, located at 129 E. Line St., Bishop. Rev. Freda Lindsay and Rev. Walt officiate the weekly, Sunday services at 10 a.m. You can hear Rev. Walt’s message on “The Devotional Hour” on Sierra Wave KSRW 92.5 FM Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. The church can be reached at (760) 8734195 for more information.)