THANKFUL defined: Conscious of a benefit received.

Thanksgiving is upon us. Its a time when our country takes time to reflect upon all things for which we are  grateful. “Conscious of a benefit received,” is just one definition I found but it resonated with me. Many times we are ungrateful, sad, depressed, angry, upset, entitled or just plain unappreciative because we haven’t realized the benefit we have received.

 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” Psalms 103:2 kjv

Jesus Christ has given us a long list of benefits. Here are but a few:

• Salvation
• Forgiveness/He is faithful & just to forgive us our sins
• Grace/His favor rests upon us
• Written promises for us to claim
• The Holy Spirit/Comfort/Guidance/Empowerment
• Joy/Peace/Love/Contentment

God’s benefits are all around us, we just have learn how to recognize them. They are not shrouded in mystery and unknown to us. We see them daily; but instead of seeing benefits we may see obligations or aggravations.

God’s benefits manifest themselves in physical and tangible ways, not only in supernatural or ethereal ways. His benefits can be heard in the voice of your child, seen in the sunrise, felt when someone wraps their arms around you, tasted in your precious mama’s good cooking or in the smell after a fresh summer’s rain. God is benefiting us with every word of encouragement, every ‘I love you,’ every paycheck, every meal, every …..thing.

“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven.” James 1:17 msg

Let’s decide to be more conscious of a benefit received and give God the glory for it.

Today I’ve asked my coworkers: what does it mean to you to be thankful. I thought I’d share their responses:

• Thankful is choosing to see the good when things are looking pretty bad.
• Being appreciative. Its understanding that we are benefiting from the efforts & contributions of people before us. Realizing that our benefits, freedoms and comfort are from them. And because of that we can be appreciative and continue to pave the way for the generations to come. It’s not about you.
• Thinking of others instead of yourself & being a blessing to them.  Knowing that God has given us a second chance at life.
• Being thankful is being blessed with people and things makes me who I am.
• Being appreciative of all things
• I believe being thankful is that I love and that I am loved. I’m thankful for my health, happiness, and my household.
• Being grateful and appreciative for being alive. Being able to do things for other people to make them happy.
• Being thankful for what you have, for making it another day. Thankful for family because many don’t have family. Thankful for food and loved ones to share a meal with.
• To be grateful & appreciative.