Live Thankfully

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Heb 13:15

Yesterday morning our youth pastor made a comment during our Sunday morning announcements that got me thinking. He was exhorting us that during this Thanksgiving season to not only be thankful but to live thankfully. Hmmm I thought to myself, what a great challenge because if your anything like me being thankful is often the by-product of feeling thankful. What a contrast between feeling and living.

As I’ve grown older I’m acutely aware of how much my “feeling” or mood has the potential to dictate how I respond to any given day. I look back on my years of Christianity and see that this has been my greatest enemy to becoming a woman who is steadfast in the things of God.  My dear mentor Elisabeth Elliot use to say,

• “Very often (nearly always, I’m afraid) when I come to church my feelings are uppermost in my mind. This is natural. We are human, we are “selves,” and it takes no effort at all to feel. But worship is not feeling. Worship is not an experience. Worship is an act, and this takes discipline. We are to worship “in spirit and in truth.” Never mind about the feelings. We are to worship in spite of them.”

If I were to create my own simple quote to remember this profound truth I would simply say, “Feelings have little to do with faith.” It is Thanksgiving and I’m so very thankful. However, there is “the continual praise” I must develop in this life of faith.

Faith must be intentional and the Psalms teach us the same principle for living thankfully. Let’s not miss the intentionality of the authors who penned verses like Ps 34:1, ” I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

 Charles Spurgeon said this, “Bless the Lord at all times. Not alone in your secret chamber, which is pungent with the perfume of your communion with God, but yonder in the field and there in the street. In the hurry and noise of the exchange, offer the sacrifice of praise to God. You cannot always be speaking His praise, but you can always be living His praise. The heart once set on praising God will, like the stream that leaps down the mountain’s side, continue still to flow in its chosen course. A soul saturated with divine gratitude will continue, almost unconsciously, to give forth the sacred odor of praise, which will permeate the atmosphere of every place…”

I have tested this principle in my own life. When I “will” never mind the feelings, and just start my day at the place of gratitude for Who He is, my faith is grounded in the Eternal and my daily walk takes on a renewed perspective. “Live Thankfully” what a precious offering of praise to our God!

PRAYER – Help us, gracious Lord, to continually bless you and in everything to give thanks. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!