It begins with something that doesn't quite go how you think it should have for God. Then something else happens like that...and yet another. Or perhaps you do something, say something, or even feel something you know that you shouldn't; but you can't stop whatever it is. Before you know it, you're not looking at God quite the same as you were a few weeks ago before all this stuff happened. There's anger, bitterness, a sense of entitlement...and most likely a cynical slant to any words you say about God. Most of all, you're left in a place where you can't help but to focus on all the questions, instead of the character and faithfulness of your God.
That folks, is how gratitude is stolen from us.
Colossians 3:15-17
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Philippians 4:5-7
5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Gratitude and Thanksgiving were designed to be received by God...and come from us. We're built to be grateful, to give thanks. Why? Well, it's because Jesus did all the work on the cross and the Holy Spirit now comes alongside of our hearts and lives to instruct and shape us. Quite simply...we were built to be grateful and give thanks to God because it is all that is left for us to do.
So often we enter situations with the very best of intentions, forgetting the most critical piece of the equation. Anything that is done for God, is done by God. Whether it is the unjustified sacrifice of Christ speaking into someone's life or whether it is the Holy Spirit breaking down walls of anger, hatred, or bitterness; God is doing the work, not you.
Who are you to think that you've done something for God that he did not, or could not do for Himself? You think you gave up a week's worth of work to go on a missions trip without the help of God? There are countless examples of daily things, from huge life changing things to very small and trivial things that we fail to recognize God in them...and it amputates the power of the cross. It amputates the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If we would just see these things for what they are and call them like we see them I think our hearts would better remember gratitude and thanksgiving.
However, as the example above, when you find yourself in seasons where it's just not going your way, we have trouble with gratitude and thanksgiving. It's no secret to God that you are troubled, that your heart has hardened regarding Him. God is not surprised, and He hasn't been since the beginning:
Genesis 3:1-10
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Unfortunately though, God has nevertheless had to respond and adjust for our the attitude of our hearts. I say "adjust" loosely, because the idea that God is all knowing and sees time differently than us goes toward the argument that He didn't really need to adjust anything. Again, He is not surprised at our unfaithfulness.
This also goes to point out that gratitude is in fact stolen from us. Adam and Eve are existing in perfect relationship with God in Eden. The deception of the serpent steals away this relationship aspect and creates a chasm between God and people. God has not changed here, people have. The hearts and minds of Adam and Eve have been altered by the deception. No longer are actions coming from the same place in their hearts...moreover they see God differently (and probably the serpent differently too). Because they see God differently, their reaction to God is different, and might I note...quite inaccurate all of a sudden.
Ah yes, to the point. It's quite so with us as well is it not? Our paradigm of God changes, even if only for a few hours, and our hearts change. That's the thing about the spiritual realm, it has the power to change your heart. God can change your heart, but Satan can make you do things that leave that same heart scarred, and damaged which also has consequences.
When temptation or a bad season of life comes along, it's a question. Will you let God shape your response to Him, or will you let something else?
