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What does it mean to have a thankful heart? I have come to believe that we need to have a thankful heart in order to grow in the Lord.

A Humbled Heart

Can we appreciate an act of God and not be humbled by that one deed? Jesus Christ, by his very willingness to go to death on the cross for our sins, humbled Himself before God. (Philippians 2:5-8) We have written evidence that Jesus wrestled in prayer over this.

The Apostle wrote often of his life belonging to Christ. One passage I am falling in love with is Acts 27:23: “Last night an angel of God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me . . . ” He continues to convey to the others onboard the ship what the angel told him and that he had faith in what he had been told.

Peter tells his readers in his first letter to “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6) We have to realize that God has given us the characteristics and abilities that make us who we are. Whether it is writing, singing, preaching, evangelizing, discerning, whatever we do is because of God’s bestowing that gift upon us.

One of my favorite passages from the Old Testament, 2 Chronicles 7:14, has a sequence I find interesting. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways . . . .” These are the words of God telling us acknowledge who He is and who we are, and to get rid of the baggage we carry. I have a friend who gives thanks to Jesus for who He is before she begins her prayers.

A Confessing Heart

In our Christian training, we are taught we have to confess our sins to God. At one point, we might ask why. Doesn’t God know everything? Why, then, do we need to bring up our transgressions to Him. The answer is simple. We have to tell God of our sins so that we realizewe have done wrong. Yes, we have to verbalize it; whether it be against Him or against a fellow Christian. We have to tell the Lord God that we ‘blew it’.

King David had to admit his sin to God. He wrote of the consequence of keeping his misdeed to himself. “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of the summer.”(Psalm 32:3-4) David speaks of confessing his sin. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’-and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)

The Apostle John wrote in his first letter that we when we confess our sins, our Lord God “is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Our Father in heaven does forgive us each time we confess our sin. He may allow us to think about what we have done as we make our confession and how our thoughtless act may have hurt someone else, our witness, and even Him. God then, gives us the strength we need to fully repent of our sinful leanings.

One of the most meaningful, yet troubling scenes is written by The Apostle Paul “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) I find it meaningful because Christ will be exalted by all those on earth, in heaven, and those who have been condemned to Hades. Everyone-from the poorest to the richest, from the vilest to the most righteous, from the most obscure to the most well-known- all will have to confess who Jesus is. What I find troubling is the idea that some of those confessing might not be doing so from their hearts but because the feel they have to- those words would be nothing more than lip-service to them.

A Contented Heart

Paul wrote to the Philippians that he was contented in whatever state he was in-whether in want or in times of plenty. (Philippians 4:11-13) He was thankful for what the Lord had given him.

This past Sunday, I listened to our pastor speak of serving Jesus. He defined a saint as ‘someone who serves God, suffering, and never complaining. Those words hit me hard. Had I been complaining? Yes, I had voiced some strong words to my husband and to the Lord. After asking a dear friend to pray with me, I felt better about what I needed to do. Then on Monday, one of the bloggers I follow posted a picture with the following words super-imposed “It is impossible for thankfulness and complaining to travel the same road side by side.” I believe God wants me to learn this lesson.

I have come to realize a contented heart is a peaceful heart. The prophet Isaiah records a hymn of praise “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed in thee.” Isaiah 26:3(NKJV)

A Peaceful Heart

While we walk through this life, we search for peace for reason of health and happiness. When we worship God, He “. . . will give strength to His people;” and He “. . . will bless His people with peace.” Psalm29:11 (NKJV)

In the process of seeking peace, we learn to relinquish our thoughts and ideas for what He has for us. “Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ told the disciples that he would leave peace with them. His plan was to leave a peace that is better than the world’s idea of peace. (John 14:27) Have you ever heard of someone experiencing a trial and hear them say, “I’m at peace with it”? That person has come to the realization that he or she is not in control. They can function with the knowledge that God is sovereign and can do with the particulars of that trial whatever He chooses.

Let each of us learn to have a thankful heart as we progress through this season of giving thanks to God.

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept