When you have truly thanked God For every blessing sent But little time will then remain For murmur or lament

Truly Thankful

 

Ben had fallen into the habit of grumbling about this and that.  He complained about the weather; he found fault with his friends and with the members of his family.  He wanted to stop it, but somehow, as soon as anything would not go his way, he found himself grumbling again.  Then he came across this verse:

 

“When you have truly thanked God

For every blessing sent,

But little time will then remain

For murmur or lament.”

 

“I see now what the trouble has been,” he told himself.  “I've been grumbling so much that I've almost forgotten to be thankful for the things I have.  Every time I find myself starting to complain about something I don't have, I'm going to say 'Thank You' to God for something that He has given me.”

 

Ben found that the idea worked.  It was much easier to keep out the grouchy, grumbling thoughts when he filled his mind with thankful ones.  There simply was no room for the trouble makers, and after a bit they disappeared.

 

Ben was surprised, too, to see how many things a plain, everyday boy had for which to be thankful.  There are many things like the sunshine, the flowers, his friends, his home, which he had been taking for granted.  As he began thanking God for these things, he had a better appreciation of them.*

 

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17

 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

The greatest gift that God has given is His Son.  When we were lost due to our sins, God, because of His great love for us, gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins.

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

 

Through Jesus, we can be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).

 

God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

– 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

Won’t YOU accept God’s gift on His terms today?

 

-- David A. Sargent

 

*Source: Junior Life, quoted in www.moreillustrations.com