Giving Thanks, a Christmas Adventure – Day Seven

 

When we aren’t Living Thanksgiving, acknowledging Him, we will be acknowledging ourselves by default—convinced we deserve more of what we don’t have and less of what we’re facing. How do I know if I’m living thanksgiving, or living ungrateful with an I deserve more mentality? Simple, if I’m not in one, I’m in the other. We can take a trying moment and make it holy, by acknowledging Him in it.  Ungratefulness, on the other hand, is a slippery slide. Thanklessness is the devil’s kudzu. Left unchecked it strangles everything in its path. There’s a tragic progression found in Romans chapter one that will serve us well as exhibit A.

Romans 1: 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Interesting… What was the result of choosing not to honor God (esteem or acknowledge Him) or give Him thanks (expressing it)? Futile speculations and a dark heart!

Futile is defined as serving no purpose, completely ineffective, completeness of failure, unwise undertaking, failure to achieve a desired result. Futile speculations would be: Empty, vain, thinking that that serves no purpose, that is completely ineffective, unwise and fails to achieve the desired result, going around and around and leading nowhere!

Of course, no one here participates in futile thinking, right? Wrong. Let me go first. I can get futile in a heartbeat. “What did he mean by that? Was she throwing that at me? Do they not appreciate everything I’m doing and have done for them?” Or how about, “Why is God letting this happen? Isn’t He hearing my prayers?”

OH, yes, I can get futile in a heartbeat, but Eph.4:16 tells me I’m not alone. “So, this I say and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds.”  That warning? Paul was giving it to believers.

Futility—I can think and rethink and rethink a thought or situation without taking the claws of my mind off of it and laying it back down at His feet, consecrating the problem, consecrating the moment instead, by acknowledging His omnipotence in it and over it and thus MAKING ROOM for Him to work in it.

But, Praise Him, while I can go futile in a heartbeat, and indulge in vain/think a thought to death thinking/, I can also get thankful in the same instant, with the breath of eucharisteō. I’m so very grateful for the Spirit showing me this wonderful truth: honoring and giving thanks is more than a preventative shield against futile thoughts, although I’m thankful for that shield. Living Thanksgiving also meets me in the middle of the mess. I can get out of the muck of present tense futile speculations by throwing on the brakes and acknowledging God! On, the power of Eucharisteō!

But let’s go back to the Word and watch the unthankful kudzu grow. We’re about to see that with futility comes a darkened mind, in other words, we won’t be able to see clearly. What’s that? Ingratitude messes with our vision! It sure does. See you tomorrow.

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