Life has its challenges. But God, by way of His Word, has done something extraordinary. He has made it possible for us to renew our minds and choose a godly mind-set in the midst of any circumstance. God has given us amazing promises and spiritual realities to look to in His Word, so even in pressure-filled times, we can choose to be thankful.
I Thessalonians 5:18:
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
God does not expect us to be thankful for everything, but He does want us to be thankful in everything. Doing this brings us peace, and it can build our confidence in what God will do for us in the challenging situations we face. The key to doing this is the renewed mind. Romans 12:2 says that you can be “…transformed by the renewing of your mind…” so that you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. We may not be able to control our circumstances, but we can always choose to control what we think about. We can reconstruct our thoughts to align with God’s Word and be thankful. So, how do we do this practically? When we are attempting to construct good habits, it can be helpful at times to put together a “do list.”
Let’s consider some mental renovations we can do to renew our minds to be thankful in every situation:
Do magnify the Source of your solution, even though you recognize the source of your challenge.
John 10:10:
The thief [our adversary, the god of this world] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus Christ, our living lord and savior, God’s only begotten Son] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
God already provided a solution to the challenge by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, for us. We can focus on what Jesus Christ accomplished as we believe for deliverance and remember that the true God is not the source of our challenge but the Source of our solution.
Do recall past deliverances.
II Samuel 22:20:
He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Remembering what God has done for us can fuel our believing to see God come through again! A thankfulness journal is a great place to record things God has done for us so we can read them over again when we need to be reminded of God’s goodness in challenging situations.
Do think about those you love.
Those we love tend to be some of our biggest supporters when we face challenging circumstances. We can remain thankful by thinking about our loved ones.
Do think about God’s goodness.
Psalm 106:1:
Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
God is always good! We can look at God’s Word and find many reminders of His goodness.
Do listen to and sing Word-centered music.
Ephesians 5:19:
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Listening to and singing songs that direct our thoughts to God and His Word can help us remain thankful and motivated.
Do find scriptures to hold in mind regarding the circumstances.
Jeremiah 15:16:
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart….
When we know what the Word says about a challenge we face, we can be grateful because we have the answer we need!
We can do these mental renovations to help us remain thankful in everything. A grateful heart can keep us ready to receive God’s deliverance in every situation. Let’s give thanks in everything, for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you!