Workout buffs dedicate special days for training their leg muscles. “Leg day” as they call it does not involve a specific exercise routine though. Instead, fitness coaches define it as a day when a person focuses his training to his lower extremities. The general aim is to strengthen and build muscles in the leg and thigh area, hence the term.
As followers of Jesus, there is one muscle that we ought to focus on building and growing daily. The gratitude muscle. As preachers say, gratitude is a discipline. Humans are not born to be thankful, but as young children almost all of us have been taught by our parents and elders to say “thank you” for everything we have received.
And as we get to know God more, we all get to be thankful for all that He has done.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5
When we make ourselves aware of everything that God has done for us, our faith roots will grow deeper. We will realize that the Lord has been so good to us even before we have decided to surrender our lives to Jesus. We will also realize that everything that we have, big or small, comes from Him.
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36
Like our physical muscles, we must train ourselves to thank God for everything that comes into our lives. We must thank Him for His sovereignty, providence, and mercy, We must thank Him for his loving kindness and for being just.
We must thank Him for the things that He allowed to come to pass in our lives, and those that He did not permit to happen. Moreover, we must thank Him for both answered and unanswered prayers.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
When we are thankful to God, we get to focus our attention on the good things that have happened to us. Instead of getting discouraged and worried because of a recent development, our minds will be trained to find what God’s message for us could be in that situation.
Thankfulness to the Lord also trains us to check what resources we have been blessed with that can help us address our current issues. It also tells us to recall what past problems God has delivered us from that will attest that He will again carry us through this current challenge that we are facing.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7
It may not be easy to be thankful when we are amidst struggles in life, but even then, we are commanded to thank the Lord for His goodness. It is in times of struggle that we need to be all the more thankful to Him and so, once we have built our gratitude muscles, thanking God will be our default mode even during crises. And this thankfulness will in the end also allow us to endure our earthly troubles and enjoy God’s peace.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 34:1-10 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Are you aware of everything you have to thank God for in your life?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you have blessed us with in our lives. For being sovereign and yet really loving and merciful. For inviting us to come to you and live a life of worship. Open our eyes to the many blessings and loving mercies you have afforded us, and give us the grace to fix our eyes on you. Amen
