“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”  Psalm 94:19

The Thankful Muscle

In response to my sharing about looking for blessings, and making a list of them, some have asked how to do that when you’re going through hard times. I think you simply find/choose one thing to be thankful for. You worship over that one thing. You thank the Lord for it. And then you add another thing to your list.

It’s like developing a muscle. When you first start exercising, it’s hard. You may struggle. You get sore after a workout. But slowly, you get stronger… and before you know it, it doesn’t hurt to exercise. We simply need to develop our “thankful muscle.” Start small and simple, and grow! God helps us because He loves the praises of His children.

Author Mark Batterson said, “When it seems as if God is letting us down, He is setting us up for something that may be beyond our ability to comprehend at the present moment.”

I think there are times when we’re “down,” when we’re discouraged, and we find it hard to be thankful… maybe we even have a voice telling us that God has failed us. I think that’s when we most need to be thankful. God has never left us. He’s not failed us. And He is usually already working on our behalf to bring answers and provisions. We need to remember His character, Who He is… and praise, praise, praise Him! There is power in worship and praise.

On my “low” days, I make conscious choices to be thankful. I know I need to keep my eyes on Him. I know I need to focus on His goodness and mercy. I know He is working to meet my needs. The enemy would want me to get upset with God because of the problems I’m facing, but I’ve learned I need to worship Him instead. As I do that, it lifts the weights from my heart, and it changes the heavy atmosphere. I can feel joy entering into my spirit. I can feel God’s comfort to my weary soul. How good and faithful He is.

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him” (1 Chronicles 16:29).  We can bring a “sacrificial” offering of praise to Him—even when we don’t feel like it!

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him” (John 4:23).

“Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins.” Alexander MacLaren

Worship begins with our hearts being filled with thanksgiving and gratitude… and then worship just can’t help from flowing out.

Thanks for worshiping with me!

“Father, we pray You find our hearts filled with true worship in spirit and truth. May our lives be fruitful and our hearts acceptable in Your sight. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”