Developing a Thankful Heart

“O that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107:8,15,21,31)!

Be Grateful

Were you ever diagnosed with an ungrateful heart?

I was brought up short once when I was working and someone gave me something I needed. Surprised at her gift and stunned by her profuse help, I did not thank her. A year later I sought to sell her something I had made. She bought it reluctantly, visibly disappointed in me. I should have given it to her to express my appreciation for her earlier thoughtful gift to me.

What is the remedy for an unthankful attitude? I began to understand that gratefulness is not part of the package when we are born. My parents poured into me all they knew to help me turn out right. I absorbed all they gave me, but appreciation was not my response.

Young and ungrateful

I was a pill growing up! My parents had a hard time raising me because I was dense. My mom would get a far-off look in her eyes. That look seemed to say, “God, You have to take it from here.”

It’s a good thing God is patient and merciful. He puts up with a lot! There seems to be no limit to His lovingkindness. Scripture is a good resource to give us examples of how to live. The Israelites repeatedly received God’s blessings, then forgot quickly what He had done for them.

We All Need Help At Times

One of the psalmists said, “O that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107:8,15,21,31)! The psalmist outlined four scenarios when the Israelites got into trouble. They first struggled to help themselves, then realized they desperately needed God’s help. At the end of the psalm, he said, “Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD” (Psalm 107:43).

Observe Thankful People

The key to developing thankfulness is being observant. We can look at the lives of people who have experienced God’s help. The value of such observation is seeing how they respond. We can learn what appreciation for God’s blessings looks like. Also, we will see how ungratefulness appears.

Thankful Hearts are Maturing Hearts

Just as we expect children to grow up to be adults, so God expects us to grow up spiritually. Paul gave us a “formula” if you will. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13).

God’s Guiding Leads   

In this formula, we have a part and God has a part. My parents have died and gone to heaven. I am striving to put what they taught me about God into practice. With His unseen hand, God is behind the scenes guiding me. Willingly yielding to God’s loving guidance demonstrates an attitude of appreciation on our part for God’s work in our lives.

Let us not be dense but praise God at this season of thanksgiving so He can glorify Himself in us the most He possibly can!

Shirley Logsdon