Thankfulness and Tenacity

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Tis time after a long hiatus to compose a post. 

On the heels of the Thanksgiving holiday, naturally I am inclined to focus this post on the topic of being thankful. And a photo from a walk that I took Thanksgiving morning stirred an idea...

In the cold Midwest midmorning of Thanksgiving, I was surprised to see some long, green grass blades poking up through the snow alongside the lifeless brown ones. Of course I had to snap several pictures. And as I did so I was struck with the thought that even when all that once was vibrant and full of life in nature has became frozen and dead, there is still the promise of new life in spring. 

In a lifetime, just as in nature, there will be cycles and seasons. Sometimes things must pass away and be let go of, some things may be brought to restoration after a period, and sometimes completely new things suddenly grow. And of course what must die and what will live again, and what seeds will sprout and what will be later reaped, is known only by God until the time comes. 

And that is where thankfulness and tenacity come in.

Psalms 9:1-2 TPT
I will worship you, Yahweh, with extended hands as my whole heart erupts with praise! I will tell everyone everywhere about your wonderful works! I will be glad and shout in triumph. I will sing praise to your exalted name, O Most High.

​Psalms 100:4 TPT
You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!

Psalm 92:1-2 ESV
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 
to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night

And of course there are a plethora of verses throughout the Bible on thankfulness. But there are two keys that I pulled out of these ones. By the way, I highly recommend reading the entirety of Psalms 92 & 100.

Key 1: Thanksgiving and Praise are tied to remembering the good things that God has done in the past for you, and tied to the goodness of God's character in general.
Key 2: An attitude of gratitude is like a secret code to open the door into God's presence - which results in peace and joy regardless of circumstances. (See Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 26:3, & Phillipians 4:4-8 listed below at the end)

So, if you can stir yourself enough to praise and thank God no matter the situation, and recall how He has shown Himself faithful thus far, then you will be spurred into ​a resolve to remain steadfast and experience hope, peace and joy in the presence of God. 

Another way to put it > Thankfulness begets Tenacity, and Tenacity begets Thankfulness.

And I know oh so well that this is easier said than done! This has been a long season of testing thankfulness and tenacity for me. I have to very intentionally remind myself of the truth of the verses that I included in this post. 

​So keep going, stay the course, and know there is light ahead.

Psalms 16:11 TPT
Because of you, I know the path of life, as I taste the fullness of joy in your presence. At your right side I experience divine pleasures forevermore!

​Isaiah 26:3 NLT
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Philippians 4:4-8 TPT
Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow! And let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.