Focus on Thankfulness
When I learned to drive motorcycles, I discovered very quickly that where you look is where you go! Through the curves, around the obstacles, or into the ditch! The same is true in our everyday lives—it’s easy to lose our focus.
If you’re anything like me, you can start to concentrate more on what everyone else is doing, decorating, devouring, or delighting in. But comparisons take up the space in our minds and hearts that God is supposed to inhabit.
Instead of being thankful for what I have, too often I can focus on what she has, or what she does, or what she gets, or how she looks. I compare home-decorating skills, culinary prowess, the number of Facebook likes she gets, and the size of her dress.
The problem with comparisons is that things are not always what they seem. Comparing her Facebook life to my real life is never a good plan. No one I know posts pictures of the burned dinner, broken hearts, or binge festing. Comparisons are only good for statisticians.
It’s my experience that comparing my house with the neighbor’s house can make me feel sad and inadequate. When I find myself beginning to compare, I tell myself to refocus! Why not enjoy her huge, gorgeous house without the expense of her electric bill or her hours of cleaning?
Comparing my “Pinterest fail” plate of homemade cookies could make me feel like the worst baker in the potluck group. But when I refocus, I can enjoy the delicacies created by someone with more talent and time to spend in the kitchen!
Comparing the diamond necklace my coworker got from her husband could make me feel that I am sorely lacking in the fine jewelry department. But when I refocus, I recognize that Mr. 4-Ever makes me feel like a diamond every day.
The secret to being thankful is where we place our focus. It’s time to let go of comparisons and turn our attention toward being thankful for what God has blessed us with. And it’s plenty!
Tell God what you’re thankful for. From the grandest gift of your salvation to the minutest of details. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the peace that falls and the joy that will bubble in your heart.
Verse for today: Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. —Ephesians 5:19–20
Prayer: Lord, sometimes I get distracted by what I don’t have rather than being grateful for all that I do have. I’m never without your presence or grace or blessings. Thank you, Father, for being such a good gift giver. Your gifts are all around me! When I start to compare myself to others, refocus my perspective. Make me ever mindful of what I can be thankful for. Amen.
I love the word you use, “refocus” . Easy to fall into the.trap of envying. I call it getting my perspective back, but I like refocus I think better. They are both about what are eyes on.. Thank you Jesus for all my blessings??
I don’t know why it keeps putting question marks where I don’t want them. Maybe because I used an emoji? Anyway, thank you Jesus for all my blessings!
Amen, Barbara. I agree completely. Keep our eyes on Jesus.
Robyn, thank you for your consistency, everyone needs encouragement. May God continue to bless your ministry. Dottie Kelly
Thank you Dottie. I appreciate you. ?
This is such a great reminder thank you for this. I met you at River Hills Church in Sauk City. So thankful our paths crossed. Thank you for what you do’
Beth, so glad you posted. I appreciate the encouragement. It was a delight to be with you in WI.
Robyn you are so on target pointing out that where our eyes and ears are, so is our focus. Your point about the motorcycle is so true — I too rode a motorcycle too and while I needed to see the curve, I needed not to focus on it or – boom – right into it I would go. So, observe to avoid, but don’t make it your focus. I agree about focusing on objects for thankfulness and I include thankfulness for what I missed – that curve, that obstacle, that failure, that pride or success that takes me away from glorifying our God.
i dont have too much trouble being envious of things others have my problem is not being able to do what i once did
watching neighbors working hard and keeping up with their houses and yards I cant keep up any more but i am thankful for the health God has given me
just want to be stronger but I am 80 i guess I cant be 40 or 50 anymore
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