This is the month when people in the United States are especially thinking about “thankfulness” or “thanksgiving.” Since this is such a prominent subject in the Bible, today I want to talk to you about the power of thankfulness.

The word “thankful,” primarily used throughout the New Testament, is a translation of the Greek word charistos. The word charistos is a derivative of the word charis, which is the New Testament word for “grace.” However, when the word charis is transformed into charistos, it more fully expresses the idea of one whose heart is thankful, grateful, or appreciative for various reasons.

One scholar says the Greek word charistos depicts an inward awareness of having been fortunate or well-treated.  Thus, the word “thankful” — translated from charistos — projects the deep inward feeling of one who is thankful, grateful, or appreciative for what one has received or how one has been treated by others.

The word “thankful” is also the present imperative active tense of eucharisteo, a compound of eu and charis. The word eu denotes good or well and always denotes a good inner disposition or a good feeling about something. As mentioned, the word charis is the Greek word for “grace” so when compounded, the new word paints the picture of one who is so grateful that he has an outpouring of overwhelmingly good feelings about everything. Regardless of what is happening — or not happening — he has decided to be thankful.

All three words — “thankfulness,” “gratitude,” and “appreciation” — are the expressions of a person who is thankful that he has experienced some good event or blessing. They depict someone who is grateful toward the person or people who treated him kindly and is appreciative of what has happened. These words also communicate the recognition of his thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation of his many blessings.

The Bible commands us “be ye thankful” and “in everything, give thanks” (see Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Even if things seem to be going wrong all around us, we can still stop to count our blessings! We may feel besieged by need at the present moment, but the fact is, we each have many reasons to be thankful! It’s simply all about your perspective.

It would be good for us to consider whether we have been thankful, grateful, and appreciative all year round! Even if we’ve been through hard times, those times could have been even harder, and we can think of much to be thankful, grateful, and appreciative for right now, while we’re still going through our difficult times of struggle.

We all go through hard times at various seasons in life and I am not diminishing the pressure this creates or how challenging your circumstances must be. But I believe it’s healthy for each one of us to stop and reflect on what we have to be thankful for today and every day!

I am thankful that God blessed me with such wonderful parents who took the time to teach and instruct me on the most basic and elementary principles of life. I grew up being taught to be thankful.  As a mature adult, the concept of “thankfulness” is deeply ingrained into my being because my parents so deeply planted it in my character. There is nothing I have that I did not receive, and I am thankful for everything God has sent into my life. I have so much to be grateful for!

Friend, regardless of what is happening — or not happening — we must choose to be thankful. And let’s be honest. Perhaps things could be better than they are in your life right now. However, you probably will admit that they are not as bad as they could be! The truth is you have a lot to be thankful about — even about the smallest details of your life.

Years ago, I made a decision that when anyone asks me how I was doing, I would answer by simply saying, “THANKFUL!”

Thankfulness really is a choice. You and I must turn our eyes toward the good in our lives and away from the foul things that try to hold our focus — and choose to be grateful. It’s not saying that we’re hiding our heads in the sand concerning those bad things; we’re simply obeying the Lord as we focus on what is good, and we display an attitude of thanksgiving “in everything.” Paul said, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Could Paul’s words be any clearer? God wants you and me to be thankful — not resentful, not forgetful, but thankful.

Really, if we consider all the terrible things that could have come about in our lives but didn’t, we can find a lot of reasons to be grateful. God has spared you and me from so much — and it is His will that we maintain a consistent, thankful attitude for the goodness He has shown us.

As you enjoy the time together with your loved ones, reflect on what the Lord has done for you by asking yourself the following questions:

• What am I thankful for?
• What has God done for me this year that has been a blessing to me?
• What have others done for me that deserves a special thank you?

This Thanksgiving, make the decision to put away all the bad memories of the past and start purposefully focusing on the good things God has done in your life. Even if you think life has been tough, I assure you that it has not been as tough as it could have been. God has been good to you. The best thing you can do when someone asks you how you’re doing is to respond, “I’m thankful!” Keep this attitude of thankfulness coming out of your mouth at all times and speak it with conviction. I promise you, that one practice alone will change the way you see life!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and may God’s abundant blessing and peace rest upon you and those you love.