Nuggets from An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith by Dave Hunt - In Everything Give Thanks

Nuggets from “An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith” by Dave Hunt – In Everything Give Thanks” –

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”  —Psalm:100:4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
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For many Americans, the word “thanksgiving” means little more than a holiday from work or school, an excuse to overeat and watch special sports events. The fourth Thursday of every November is hardly devoted to giving of thanks. And what brief thanks is given to God scarcely reflects habitual attitudes. How readily we return to lives devoted to self instead of to Him – lives characterized more by complaining than by gratitude.

This chapter is not intended as an exhortation to sanctify a secular holiday. Rather, we want to deal with something much deeper, something that ought to characterize our lives at all times. Sadly, the continual thanksgiving that Scripture exhorts – “giving thanks always (Eph:5:20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
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Christian psychologists and motivational speakers would suggest that “exchanging grumbling for gratitude turns unhappiness into joy.” Now there’s a catchy phrase to motivate thanksgiving, or so it would seem. Those who are deceived by such slogans adopt a thankful “mental attitude” for selfish reasons – in order to benefit themselves. Such placebo techniques may produce surface changes and even convince those who seem to benefit for a time, but eventually the forced smiles betray empty hearts.

It is God’s truth, and only God’s truth, that can effect any real and lasting transformation in our lives. Furthermore, there is always much for which we ought to be genuinely and continuously thankful. Most people who think they have nothing to be thankful for are not nearly as bad off as they could be, and are far better off than millions of others – reason enough to be thankful. No matter how dismal one’s circumstances may seem, there is always a great deal for which to give thanks. But the problem goes deeper.

It is self on the throne, wanting to please and benefit itself – and the failure to deny self as Christ commanded – which brings unhappiness no matter how favorable circumstances may be. Fear of loss haunts those who security and joy is in earthly possessions; and death eventually robs them of all. Genuine and acceptable thanksgiving to God must have a source far deeper than a feeling of gratitude for the physical blessings of this temporary and fragile earthly existence.