Thankful or Just Saying What is Expected?

Sounds a bit cynical doesn't it?  But think about it, how often do we see those that complain about everything list their '30 Days Of Thankfulness'?  Are we as Christians guilty of that?  Do we step up and say what is expected whether it be in November or some other time, all the while our actions are speaking a much more negative tone?  I am ashamed to admit I have been guilty. 


Yet the Bible tells us to Rejoice in the Lord, it tells us that His grace is sufficient, it proclaims that He will meet our needs.  Still we may stay in the 'gloom, despair and agony on me' group because the devil doesn't want us to see those promises for what they contain.  His blood is sufficient - it does not matter what the sin or the problem - this isn't a hope, it is His promise.  But just like every gift He gives you must accept it for it to work in your life.  He will meet our needs, oh may we learn the difference between a need and a want!  We are a generation that WANTS a lot, and most of it is not a need.  We want a shiny new car, even when the car we have works well.  We want more money to buy more things.  We want more things to spend our time on, neglecting the most important aspects of our life, our family.  We want money to buy for our children rather than giving them the time they need to grow and learn the importance of love. 


Have you been guilty?  I have.  I can make excuses all day but the truth is when those things happen it is because I have gotten my eyes off God and on things.  They become the idols of the day.  As Christians we often condemn the 'idols' of false religion, yet we have our own, our tv, our phone, our games (football, basketball, golf), our 'me time' that cause us to lose sight of the path the Savior wants us to take.


I fail, I fail often, I let the past or the present become overwhelming and I take my eyes off the path He wants for me.  But what I'm learning daily is that He forgives often as well.  There is no 'magic' number of failures that make Him say 'nope, you have exceeded your limit today, I can't forgive this'.  He doesn't want us to fail, yet He is there when we do.


And the sooner we turn to Him and ask forgiveness, the sooner we can see His deliverance.  I need His forgiveness every single day.  I don't wake up saying "I'm going to sin or I'm going to fail" each day yet my flesh is weak and I do.  The most amazing thing to me is how He knew that and loved me anyway.  He saw every slip, every fall, every tear and He stretched out His arms on an old rugged cross.


I have no ability to understand that kind of love.  I am so thankful for it.  I fail as a Christian, I fail as a mother, I failed as a daughter, I have failed in everything I have ever attempted. Yet He loves me.  He wants me to succeed, but His love is not based on my success.  Once I accepted Jesus as my Savior, His blood painted me a success in God's eyes.  Lord, help me to become the person You see me as through the blood!