One day as I began to ponder “why” I should be feeling a little “dull and testy” when nothing was actually “wrong” with my day…. I heard something  in my spirit – which was this – “The secret to keeping things fresh and new.. is a thankful heart”…..  

And now having gotten my attention, the Spirit of God began to add more to what I had just heard! …… It was to this effect…..”The secret to keeping things fresh and new – is a thankful heart”….. And having a thankful heart is also the secret to walking in and letting patience have its perfect(ing) work in your life… Which thing the Word of God tells us is very important – i.e. “Count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, knowing this – that the trying of your faith worketh patience….. But let patience have her perfect work – that you may be perfect (complete) and entire, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4).

In thinking about it, I can see how that having an overall thankful heart attitude makes it much easier to be patient … with things and with  people  …. Because we know that patience is the secret to possessing your own soul (the mind, will, and emotions)  Luke 21:19….. So a thankful heart makes it easier for you and me to stay in control of our own thoughts and actions….    

I am beginning to see that developing a thankful heart is the foundation upon which other strong and desirable qualities in our life are built.   I am not generally an ungrateful person, but I see today that there is still room for (and cause for ) improvement in having this irreplaceable heart attitude of thankfulness….   (Do you suppose that this could be one reason why God – in His love for us – has commanded us to give thanks and be thankful?)

I hope this that I just shared with you will cause you – as it did me- to check out the attitude of your heart and see if there is room in you for more of this wonderful virtue of a thankful heart ….. It just might be the very thing that is needed for the opening of some other doors for you!

Thanksgiving – a day to celebrate….. and an attitude to cultivate!