To Be or Not To Be or Feelings?

Now that is a question! What's the difference? Well when it comes to being thankful I think it is as different as night and day.

Feeling thankful is based on emotion and can change depending on numerous factors including internal or external influences. Simply put, feeling thankful is based on how you feel at the moment.

Being thankful is an action, not a reaction to an emotional state. If you are thankful, you will act to express it either by word or deed. If you simply want to feel it, the goal is met when you feel it, and no further action is required.

Breaking it down a little further you could say that feeling thankful is about you and being thankful is not. Sad thing is feeling thankful to some is like feeling happy and some believe they are entitled to it. Which if you consider that for a moment would then mean that if you think you are entitled to feeling thankful, then you believe people need to do things for you so you are...kind of tough when its put that way, huh?

The key to becoming thankful is all about the object of the thanks. Think about it...wanting or trying to create the "feeling" of thankfulness is all about the person wanting to or trying to feel thankful, right? Makes sense. But if we are to "be" thankful, we are focused on something outside ourselves. The point is not to create a feeling, but to respond to something or someone.

Look at this verse:

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1 NIV)

If we can focus our thanks on God, for how He loves us, we can escape the cycle of emotional ups and downs that come with trying to feel thankful. This might sound simple or even stupid to you, and I apologize if it does...ok I don't...I am not sorry. OK, I am sorry about that...yikes, that's enough of that.

Anyway..."being" thankful is accomplished when we stop thinking that thankful is a by-product of something that has to happen to or for us and we accept what God has already done. There is no way we can express human gratitude for the supernatural gifts God has given us, that a simple choice can be the difference-maker between heaven and hell.

That makes me thankful. As a matter of fact, it makes anything anyone might ever do for me or even to me pale in comparison. That being said, I can be in a state of thankfulness all the time, even when it would seem to the world I have nothing to be thankful for...so thanks Jesus!

Again...thank you Jesus...and let this year be a season of being over feeling.

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat