We’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving this month. But how can you be thankful in tough times? When the economy is not good, when finances are tight, when things aren’t going your way? The Bible says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 NKJ.

The Bible says I should give thanks “in everything” not for everything – big difference. How is it possible to give thanks in every situation? Because I know that God can bring good, even out of the bad. Because in every circumstance, no matter how bad it is, I know that God is bigger than my problem, that He will give me the power to go through the problem and that He will grow me through the problem, if I respond in the right way.

You may think, “But how can I be grateful when I’ve lost so much?” Here’s how – you look at what you have left, not what you’ve lost. And you have a lot left. You’re still alive for starters! And you have a lot of blessings if you look around and count them. So, the question is, “What are you taking for granted?” A relationship, your family, your church, your freedom?

A famous English Bible scholar named Matthew Henry was once attacked by thieves and robbed of his purse. He wrote these words in his diary: “Let me be thankful. First, I was never robbed before. Second, although they took my purse, they didn’t take my life. Third, although they took my all, it was not much. Fourth, let me be thankful because it was I who was robbed and not I who did the robbing.” There is always something that you can be thankful for.

Your problem(s) is not your real problem. You think it is but it’s not. Your real problem is your perspective, the way you look at the problem. What you choose to focus on has a greater influence on your life than anything else. If you’re constantly focused on all the bad things that are happening around you, you’re going to be depressed. The Attitude of Gratitude is the key to overcoming discouragement because it gets your eyes off the problem and puts it on the positive things in your life.

Have you counted your blessings lately? Have you expressed your thankfulness to God? One day Jesus healed ten people with leprosy. The Bible says after they were healed that only one person came back to Jesus to thank Him. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?” Luke 17:17 Don’t miss opportunities to give thanks to God, look for them. Do not choose to be overcome by your problems. Choose to thank God “in” the problem and choose to overcome the problem by changing your perspective.

Would you pray this prayer in your heart? “Dear Lord, help me be a more grateful person, to develop the attitude of gratitude and to thank You in every situation, to realize that there’s always something to be grateful for. Help me to think about the right things, to spend some time with You in the Bible every day, reading, praying, and giving thanks. Help me to fill my mind with positive things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Pastor Ray