As Many of you know, this Thanksgiving season we are focusing on the idea that "there is great power in a grateful heart." Shane Sheane once told this little tale in a sermon:
There is an old legend of a man who found the barn where Satan kept his seeds ready to be sown in the human heart. On finding the seeds of discouragement more numerous than others, he learned that those seeds could be made to grow almost anywhere. When questioned, Satan reluctantly admitted that there was one place in which he could never get them to thrive. "And where is that?" asked the man. He replied sadly, "In the heart of a grateful person."
Proverbs 4:23 tells us "Above all, guard you
r heart. For all you do flows from it." Timely words, if you ask me. Because when you think of it, our hearts really do impact everything that we do in our lives. If our hearts are in a good place, it makes sense that the rest of our lives will follow suit.
A few years ago one of our kids developed a sleepwalking issue.
We found this out on a family camping trip. In the twilight of the night we heard the camper door open and he was out into the darkness before I could stop him. Praise God I got to him before he wandered off too far. Once we got him this happened at our house again. So, in order to keep him safe I went and got a chain lock and placed it high on the door so that he could not reach it. Every night we close that lock. It's interesting though, because most people only think of chain locks as something we used to keep people out; but for us it is also something that keeps him in. It has a double purpose. Keep the harm out and keep the valuable in.
This is also the story for gratefulness. When we allow grat
efulness to be a huge part of our lives it can be a great way to guard our hearts as the Proverbs commands. Gratefulness will not only keep the critical and harmful spirit of the world that is grounded in selfishness and pride our of our hearts; but it will keep the things of the Lord, the Kingdom values of love, joy, peace, and compassion in our hearts.
So what is guarding your heart today? Are you allowing the posture of gratefulness to stand guard over your heart? Or is the critical sprit of the world trying to find a way in? I encourage you to seek gratefulness today, because there is great power in a grateful heart.
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash