Daily Devotional For April 10, 2025
And whenever the living creatures express glory and honor and thank-fulness to the One sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever, . . . Rev 4:9.
According to this text, one of the marks of heavenly life is the constant expression of thankfulness. This may be difficult to understand for those accustomed to having everything they need. We are more likely to complain about our minimal lack of comforts than we are to give thanks for our abundance. What we need is a change of attitude. The difference between thanks and complaints has more to do with our point of view than it does with the actual facts on the ground. Let me illustrate.
As a husband I get a bit grumpy whenever my wife hogs the covers, why don’t I let the sudden breeze remind me to be thankful that she is not out somewhere with someone else? As a parent I get more than grumpy when I’ve asked one of my children to clean his or her room and I find them in front of the TV instead. Why doesn’t it occur to me to be thankful that my child is at home and not on the streets?
When tax time comes, I complain about all the taxes I have to pay, but shouldn’t I be thankful instead that I am employed and that I make enough money to be worth taxing? When my childrens’ friends leave a mess after a party, I find it easy to grumble, but wouldn’t it be better to be thankful that my children have friends, and that they trust my wife and me enough to bring them over to our house?
The other day I was complaining about clothes that fit a little too snug, why didn’t it occur to me to be thankful that I have more than enough to eat? You see, the difference between complaining and thankfulness is primarily attitude!
When my lawn needs mowing, my windows need cleaning, and my gutters need fixing, I am reminded to be thankful that I have a home. When I hear lots of complaints about the government, I can be thankful that we have freedom of speech where I live. When the only parking spot is at the far end of the lot, I can be thankful that I am able to walk and that I have a car. When my heating bill is extra large I can be thankful that I am warm.
When the lady behind me in church sings off key, I can be thankful that I can hear. When there’s a pile of laundry to be washed, dried and folded, I can be thankful I have enough clothes. When my muscles are aching at the end of the day, I can be thankful that I have the ability to work hard. When the alarm goes off in the early morning hours, I can be thankful that I am still alive.1
Lord, teach me anew an attitude of gratitude and praise. I want to use this day to practice for the heavenly chorus.
1 Inspired by an email from Dan Millen, November 25, 2003.