CHOOSING TO BE THANKFUL

• Philippians 4:11 – Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

 
The Apostle Paul understood a very important truth. We were created with freedom of choice, and God does not force us to be happy. On the contrary, we are the ones who must learn to be happy, to "train ourselves"—that is, to teach ourselves and get used to being content in whatever state we find ourselves in. The Apostle continues, saying:

• Philippians 4:12-13  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

 
The verse Philippians 4:13 is very often used, but not always correctly. Many Christians believe that based on this verse, Jesus is obligated to strengthen us to do whatever we desire. But when we study the verse in context, just as any verse should be studied, we see that it is about being able to do what God calls us to do, so that we may fulfill His plan for our lives, not our own plan. Paul says that he learned how to manage both with much and with little, and that the Lord strengthened him in every situation he had to go through.
 
Perhaps you think that we do not need the Lord's help when we have more than we need, because we can take care of ourselves. Is that really so? When a person leads an abundant life, three great dangers lie in wait: pride, greed, and self-sufficiency. All of these put man on the throne instead of God. Only through the power that the Lord gives us can we remain humble, temperate, and totally dependent on God.

• Proverbs 15:15 – All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

 
How much wisdom and how much truth are in this verse! The original Hebrew word translated here as "afflicted" is “'aniy,” and in this verse, it is used in the sense of "poor, needy" (according to the “Brown-Driver-Briggs” dictionary).
 
Therefore, the poor or needy person would seemingly have no reason for joy; yet, if they choose to have a content heart, they live as if they have everything in abundance and enjoy "a continual feast." At any feast, people have only one care: to laugh and have a good time. No one can have a "continual feast"—meaning continuous, uninterrupted, and unceasing—without a thankful heart that trusts totally in the Lord.
 
Where did Paul's strength come from? It came from his close relationship with Jesus, the Lord of his life. In Philippians 1:21, Paul wrote: “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” His life was not merely centered on Jesus, nor was it just led by Jesus; for Paul, life itself was Jesus. When we come to love the Lord of our life the way Paul loved Him, with body and soul, and we understand that our relationship with Jesus is enough, this world we live in, loses its importance. Our desires stop being selfish and look more like what the Lord wants us to desire. And when we want what the Lord wants, we are thankful for who He is in our lives and who we are in Him.
 
Who are we in Jesus?

• We are children of God (Romans 8:16 – “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”).

 

• We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”). 
  

 

• We are overcomers and will reign in life (Romans 5:17 – “...much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”).

 

• We are set free from the bondage of sin (Romans 8:1-2 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus... For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”).

 

• We are rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom of God (James 2:5 – “...Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”).

 

• We are loved with a sacrificial love by our Heavenly Father who gave His Son for our salvation (1 John 4:9 – “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”).

 

• We are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9).

 
God's power through Jesus has given us everything we need to have eternal life and to live in humility and obedience to the Lord. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of Jesus and receive the most valuable promises, through which we become more like the Lord, as we no longer follow the lusts of the flesh but instead flee from everything that is sin.

• 2 Peter 1:3-4 As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 
In conclusion, we have every reason to choose to train ourselves to have a thankful heart for what we have in Jesus Christ, regardless of what we must go through. The Lord has provided everything we need to have eternal life while living according to His pleasure. We can be thankful when we manage to understand this truth:

• 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 
When we choose to focus on the wonder of being God's children, on the Lord's love, and on what awaits us in heaven after we leave these bodies, we have every reason to be thankful and happy. Living this way, we can have a "continual feast," a continuous joy, and help those around us find Jesus. How much things would change for the better in our communities if more of us chose to be thankful and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, living to please our Heavenly Father!
 
Additional Bible verses to consider:

• Matthew 15:36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.

 

• Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

• Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

• Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Carmen Pușcaș