Grateful or Thankful?

The sermon at my church this past weekend sort-of flipped me on my head. Or, it stepped on my toes, so speak. It was about the power of being thankful. What I have found myself pondering is the difference between being thankful and having a grateful heart. I think it is more than semantics. I am a 'thankful' person. I thank God all the time for things, people and stuff. What God has highlighted on my life is that I have not been living as a grateful person.

For example, when I worry about the PARC, finances and the future, I am now working towards turning my thoughts to being grateful that God is Provider and the God who breaks through. The focus becomes about God and not about my problem. When I worry about a relationship or the future of the ones I love, I am grateful that God is Redeemer and Repairer of the Breach.

I have spent the last few months waiting for" the other shoe to drop". And trust me, a lot of shoes have dropped in my life lately. But I am changing my focus. Instead of focusing on what may come or all that I have been through, I am trying to turn my heart to focus on WHO God is. It helps me to remember all the things He has done for me through the past 'shoe dropping incidents' and points me to remember that He is the One who has all the answers, which is wonderful because He is my Counselor and my Guide.

I have found for me that it is actually "taking my thoughts into captivity'. That's where it all starts. What do I believe? When my thoughts turn to worry and fretting, I must take THOSE thoughts captive and remember God. Paul uses warfare terminology in 2 Cor. 10:5 because it truly is a battle. It is a constant battle to turn my thoughts back to who God is and be grateful that that is truly WHO He is. The God that I love and who loves me is good and He fights for me! I am grateful for that. So very grateful. It has changed me.