Part 1

          Why do we so often miss God’s blessings in our lives?  We are not looking for them. So how do we recognize God’s blessings in our lives?

          1. Be INTENTIONAL – our flesh may be inclined toward dissatisfaction, lust for more, or discontentment.  We must make a decision, a choice to give thanks.  51 or 52 references in the Bible say “Give Thanks” We can give thanks even when we don’t FEEL thankful.  If we wait until we feel thankful, we may never give thanks.     

          2. Cultivate a heart of THANKSGIVING – Stir up the soil of your heart.  Ask yourself what you received in place of what you deserved.  I deserve death, but You gave me life.  I deserve condemnation, but You gave me acceptance.  I deserve to labor and to be heavy laden, but You gave me rest.  I deserve ___________ but You gave me _______. 

          3.  LOOK BEYOND the circumstance to the benefit.  Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude. Being grateful is being appreciative of benefits received.  Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.  There is healing power in a thankful heart.  It is the number one cure for anxiety.  Philippians 4:6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The big difference between anxious prayers and the prayers that bring peace is the component of thanksgiving. 

          4.  Offer a SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING…Psalm 107:22: Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.  Psalm 116:17: I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.  You can GIVE thanks even when you don’t FEEL thankful.  It is a sacrifice – an offering unto the LORD. The sacrifice of thanksgiving. 

          GIVE THANKS TODAY. 

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the ministry team at America’s Keswick.  She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study.  Diane has been married to her husband John over 27 years.  She has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all.  She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.