One day after school, my 5 year old was trying to explain to me (with tears in his eyes) why he had gotten a slip for talking too much in class. I said, “Why would you do that when you know Miss Webster needs you to listen? You’re being disobedient. You can’t learn what you need to learn if you’re talking out. It makes God sad when we’re disobedient.”
He then proceeds to stammer out, “Well, it’s just that sometimes I want to be good, and sometimes I’m bad.”
As I stood there with my mouth hanging open, I replied, “Well, my son, you better be coming over to ‘the good side’ REAL QUICK if you like to sit on that behind of yours!”
After I took a “mommy time-out” to get my thoughts together, I realized …that was a 5 year old’s honest interpretation or battle with his own sinful nature. I knew if I could make my son understand how much Miss Webby does for him and how much she cares for him, he would be so much more grateful! He has a huge heart for a little guy, so I knew if I could get him to see that he needs to be obedient out of respect for her, he would try harder.
It was then that I had this “AAH-HA” moment. If we were ALL more thankful to God for his INDESCRIBABLE GIFT (2 Cor. 9:15), we would all make better choices.
When we are tempted to sin, what if we chased that temptation away with a heart overflowing with thanks! For example, when we are tempted to say or think:
-Why can’t I have that car, that house, that bank account? We refute this by graciously thanking a God who richly provides everything we need and more (1 Tim. 6:17).
THANKS BE TO GOD FOR PROVIDING FOR MY EVERY NEED!
-Why can’t my life be less stressful? I feel like I’m running myself into the ground! We can dwell on the fact that God is our rock, our comforter, our PRINCE OF PEACE.
THANKS BE TO GOD FOR BEING MY HIDING PLACE!!
-Why can’t I fix this relationship, problem, addiction, heartache, or this anger I have? We can KNOW that we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us!
THANKS BE TO GOD FOR BEING MY HEALER AND REDEEMER!!!
-Why can’t I (or my loved one) be well again? I can know that God has a plan. I can know that God desires for me to be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:16-18) even when I do not understand.
THANKS BE TO GOD FOR BEING MY SAVIOR WITH WHOM I WILL LIVE FOREVER!!!
As God reminded me to be more thankful through disciplining my son, we are trying as a family to refute our bad choices with hearts of thankfulness instead.
As we begin this wonderful season of Thanksgiving and celebration, my prayer is that we would continue to try and do what pleases God. When we are TRULY THANKFUL, we can’t help but conquer some of the doubts and sins that plague us.
Let us graciously embrace, “GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.” Psalms 107:1
~Stephanie Finch
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