Our minds naturally focus on thankfulness on Thanksgiving. And we are grateful for family and friends, home and material things. How thankful am I for what God has done for me?
Am I Thankful for God?
Thankfulness breeds love; so the question is, do I love God? I mean really love Him as He desires me to, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?
Maybe I loved Him when life was simpler, but now with battle scars of life I’ve grown jaded and doubting about that first love?
But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].
Revelation 2:4 AMP
If this is true for you, it is possible to fall back in love with God. In fact, it’s possible to fall back in love with anyone. The key is focusing on thankfulness and gratitude.
How to Fall in Love with God
When you think of God, what do you have to be grateful for? Ask yourself these three questions for a start (from the Science of People blog.)
- Q: Could you be locked in an elevator with this person? A:“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).
- Q: Are they genuinely happy for you when something good happens to you? A:“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV).
- Q: Do they truly want the best for you, even if it isn’t convenient? A: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6 ESV).
My Thankfulness Grew into Love
Years ago I didn’t love God, I didn’t really know the first thing about Him. But I knew I needed peace in my life.
I had no where else to go. I began to learn about God, and experienced a relationship with Him that filled me with peace and gratitude. I’ve never looked back and regretted the time I spent falling in love with my Savior.
If you sense a need in your life that can’t be met by yourself or others, maybe it’s time to ask God to meet that need. He’s more than ready to meet that need and build a relationship with you. Your gratefulness will overflow and blossom into love.
If you are not sure where to start, try downloading the You Version app. It’s got many different versions of the Bible, along with many other helps to get you started learning about who He is. Read the gospel of John to start. If you have trouble understanding it, try different versions until you find one that resonates. You can also listen to the audible version with this app.
Then begin a list: write down reasons to be thankful for God. What better day to start than Thanksgiving?
…because U count, deb