The Power of a Thankful Heart

Colossians 2:6 & 7 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Several extraordinary things happen to us when we purpose to always be thankful.

Firstly: The power of a thankful heart keeps you from the destructive influence of bitterness, for it lifts you to a higher perspective and lets you see things from God’s point of view. Yes, people will treat you badly and unjustly; but the Lord works all things for your good. Be thankful, and watch Him work.

Secondly: The power of a thankful heart prevents you from falling into pride; for thankfulness breeds humility. Pro 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” A grateful man is a humble man; and a humble man receives the grace of God to face and overcome all things.

Thirdly: The power of a thankful heart cultivates peace of mind and composure of character. When your life becomes rooted and built up in the truth of God’s word, there is very little that can disturb your spirit.

Fourthly: The power of a thankful heart increases your sense of purpose in God’s work, for you know that He has plans for you; plans to bless you, to prosper you, to use you as a blessing for others, and to fulfill your life on earth to a happy end. Jer 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Fifthly: The power of a thankful heart gives you a confident assurance for the future — not only for the life you live on earth, but after you pass from this world into the next; you will enter His presence with thanksgiving, seeing you’ve practiced it your whole life. Psa 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”

Sixthly: The power of a thankful heart permeates the atmosphere with positive energy. Your outlook of faith is empowering for others who may not be able to see things so clearly. Your glad disposition brightens their dark moments, like Paul and Silas singing praise to God in the Philippian jail. Act 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

And finally: The power of a thankful heart honors God, for it dares to look beyond the obvious to see the actual. Circumstances may be bleak, and things may be bad; the economy of your life may be teetering on collapse, and situations may seem all but hopeless — but God is still in control. Jesus was notified that Lazarus was sick. See what Jesus says in Joh 11:4 “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” We read that Lazarus had died when Jesus arrived and that Jesus resurrected him. Jesus did not look at the obvious but at the actual fact where He resurrected Lazarus. Your thankful heart demoralizes the powers of hell and glorifies your heavenly Father.

Start a life in thanksgiving from today and all these things and more will be yours!

‘Lord Jesus, from today I choose to live a life of thankfulness. Thank you that I know that You are always in control. Please forgive me for all the times where ungratefulness overcame me and where I allowed it into my life. Please empower me, through the Holy Spirit, to fulfil this life of thankfulness. Amen.”