Thanksgiving! Oh, how we love our Thanksgiving feast. To fill our mouths with all yummy things. And fill our bellies full of goodness and delight.
But what if circumstances offer us no festive fare to fill our stomachs? What if our difficulties bring us nothing but heartburn? What fills our mouths? Grumbling and complaining?
Oh, to have our spiritual belly filled with goodness and delight that it would overflow in praise and thanksgiving! Jesus said, “Whatever is in the heart overflows into speech.” (Luke 6:45b TLB)
So, what kind of speech slides off the tip of our tongues? The Bible says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” (Prov. 18:21 Msg)
When negativity fills our hearts and minds, we spew out poison. Our negative thoughts and words can actually make us sick. Dr. Caroline Leaf says toxic thoughts “are real physical things that parasitically invade our minds, destroying everything in their path – spirit, soul and body – if they are not stopped.”
She says a “Change in your thinking is essential to detox the brain.” But the only way to do that is to replace the negative with the positive.
Therefore, as Scripture says, our words can also give Life. The Word of God gives Life. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
We need thanksgiving therapy. We need to push out “foolish talk” with thanks and praise, as Paul exhorted the Ephesian church, that there be “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” (Eph. 5:4 NKJV)
Are we feasting on God’s Word to fill our minds and spiritual bellies with His presence, and with His Life? Are we overflowing in mouthfuls of thanksgiving?
Thankfulness is not a denial of reality with its profusion of problems, its surplus of circumstances. Thankfulness focuses on the Lord, His blessings, and His working power in the midst of trials and tribulations.
Being in the midst of adversity or heartache, when your spiritual belly is empty, can be devastating and makes it difficult to praise and thank the Lord. But that’s when it is a “sacrifice of praise.” You may still be in the same set of circumstances, but your thankfulness and praise will take the sting out of adversity.
We still praise Him, no matter what, as David did when in distress, “For I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.” (Psalm 42:5 AMP)
If I constantly boo-hoo my circumstances more than praising God, I magnify my circumstances above God’s character and power.
God created us to glorify Him. Which means to make larger. So which is larger in your life right now?
Therefore, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18 NKJV), “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:20 NKJV)
Gratitude and thankfulness spring from a heart of love, even when experiencing a horde of circumstances. We give thanks to the Lord regardless of our situations or feelings. We love on Him with our words of praise and thanksgiving.
Tomorrow is the day: Thanksgiving. Amidst all your preparations and celebration, will your mouth be filled with the fruit of praise or just turkey?
“Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times
offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips
that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.”
(Heb. 13:15 AMPC)
Lynn writes devotionals and inspirational stories. She has one book waiting to be published in 2015 and is working on a second one. Her greatest passion is to fulfill God’s call on her life to encourage others and glorify the Lord with her writing. She currently writes for several sites and writes bi-weekly on her site, Heading Home. http://lynnmosher.com
- When Heaven and Earth Collided - December 21, 2016
- A Thanksgiving Proclamation - November 23, 2016
- The Cranky Bride - October 25, 2016
