“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him and bless His name.  For the Lord is good; His mercy is everylasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”  ~Psalm 100:4-5

Do You Have A Heart Condition?

 Do you ever talk when you should be listening?  Or speak when you should be silent?  Most of us do – sometimes only on occasion, others….well, you get the picture.

Mathew 12:34-37 says this

“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks….for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

Did you catch that?  By OUR words we will be justified, and by OUR words we will be condemned!  Now let that sink in for a moment.  If what is in our hearts eventually comes out of our mouths – and what comes out of our mouths determines justification or condemnation – doesn’t it make sense that we should continuously check the condition of our hearts?

In her devotional book, “Jesus Calling”, Sarah Young writes, “A thankful attitude opens windows of heaven.  Spiritual blessings fall freely onto you through those openings into eternity.  Moreover, as you look up with a grateful heart, you get glimpses of Glory through those windows….Thankfulness is not some sort of magic formula; it is the language of Love, which enables you to communicate intimately with Me [God]. A thankful mind-set does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems.  Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations….”

Thankfulness brings peace.  Peace brings joy.  Joy brings victory!

If you’ve been feeling defeated lately, check to see if you have a heart condition.  When you’re done with that, check your words and see if they line up with the Word of God or if they’re in direct conflict with His Word.  Then, decide to “walk in” an attitude of thankfulness and praise.  Maybe you don’t feel like you have much to be thankful for right now.  Don’t be deceived!  Let me help you get started with your list of “heavenly thank you’s”….

• You’re breathing!
• You’re unique!
• You’re loved (even if you don’t think you are……you are!)
• You can see (If not, you wouldn’t be reading this right now!)
• You can read

• You can move your fingers, hands, and arms

• You’re not alone! (God is always with you, even when you don’t “feel” His presence!)

Friend, let me encourage you today….Begin to speak forth praise and thankfulness to your Heavenly Father for all that He does in your life – things you know about…and things you’ll never know!  It will change your life!