A Thankful Heart is a Hopeful Heart

Are you a thankful person? Are you a thankful spouse? Are you a thankful parent? Did you know that you can be intentional about being thankful? What does the bible say about being thankful and how is this connected to hopefulness? Let’s get started with a few well known verses.

 

“In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1Thess 5:18).

 

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col 3:15). 

 

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col 3:17).

 

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Col. 4:2).

 

Just by reading these verses, you will quickly agree that thankfulness is important to God. However, what many do not always understand is how thankfulness is connected to hopefulness. Hence, a thankful heart is a hopeful heart. 

 

Hope is a critical component in everyone’s life, and even more important because of the times we are living in. Hope from the world’s stand point is wishful thinking. I hope this pandemic ends soon or I hope my marriage gets better can be different ways to encourage oneself but this encouragement is more powerful when said with the understanding of biblical hope. Biblical hope can help you to experience radical change in any situation, including your marriage.

 

Biblical hope is “confident expectation” in what God has promised. Your faith is added to the equation to bring about biblical hope. Faith and hope are complementary. Faith is grounded in the reality of the past; hope is looking to the reality of the future.

 

Now, here is the connection. When someone is thankful, there is a sense of confident expectation that more of what they are thankful for is possible. A thankful heart becomes a hopeful heart as a person looks to a brighter future. In relationships, a thankful spouse becomes a hopeful spouse even in a difficult season.  

 

I understand that this year, 2020, has been very difficult for many. I understand why many may wonder, “Is there anything to truly be thankful for?” Listening to the news does not seem to help either.

 

However, I want to encourage you to be intentional this year about showing your gratitude to God first, and then others. Start with your family. As an action step, take some time this week and tell your spouse and family members, “Thank you for …………”

 

You will notice that as you start to become more thankful, it will bring a sense of love, peace, joy and happiness to the atmosphere. It will also drive out fear of the negative circumstances that may be around you.

 

For more tips, tools and resources, visit www.hopeconquersd.com. If you are interested in becoming a more hopeful and thankful person, enriching and transforming your marriage through the Total Marriage Transformation Experience can be of tremendous help. Click for more information. A thankful heart is indeed a hopeful heart.