God, I'm Just Grateful for You

How thankful are you? Sure, it is easy to give God thanks and praise when all is well. But to thank God when things are difficult and painful, that is a different matter.

God, I'm Just Grateful for You

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

(James 1:17)

Have you heard Elevation Worship and Chandler Moore's new song, "God, I'm Just Grateful"? You can listen to it here. The song begins:

There was no way until You made one
Grace upon grace, hallelujah
Even though I don't deserve it, You did it
Even though I couldn't earn it, You give it
Who am I that You keep me on Your mind?
God, I'm just grateful for You
God, I'm just grateful for You
All my life, You've been right here by my side
God, I'm just grateful for You
God, I'm just grateful for You

It is a powerful reminder of how good God has been to us and how we should constantly give Him praise and thanksgiving for all He has done. Can you imagine your life without Christ in it? Whew, I do not want to even go there in my mind, because it would not be pretty, that is for sure. This reminds me of another popular Christian contemporary song written by Matthew West and Peter Burton titled, "Where Would I Be?" Here are some of my favorite lyrics in this song:

Where would I be if I didn't have Jesus
Pulling me out of that grave?
Where would I be if I didn't have mercy
Pulling me away from my ways?
I'd probably crash and burn, stay stuck down in that dirt
Like a prodigal running from home
Where would I be if I didn't have Jesus?
Thank God, thank God, thank God I'll never know

How thankful are you? Sure, it is easy to give God thanks and praise when all is well. But to thank God when things are difficult and painful, that is a different matter. I call those moments sacrifices of praise. I encourage you today to develop a constant rhythm of being thankful, of having that attitude of gratitude that tells God that no matter what happens to you today, you will be grateful and find ways to praise Him no matter what.

God is still working on me in this area. Being thankful in the waiting or praising when it is painful, well, these are characteristics of men and women of God who are mature in their faith. How mature are you in this critical area of being thankful?