I could tell right away hey weren't digging that at all. So I leaned down and said to them, "Boy, I bet it's been a long time since someone has done that to you."

The wife looked up and said (in a voice somewhere between Gladys Cravitz on Bewitched Bewitched and Mrs. Howell on and Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island Gilligan's Island ): "Well, normally we don't spend so much time with immature people." ): "Well, normally we don't spend so much time with immature people."

I just thought, "You poor soul! Back into the wilderness you go!"

Do you know something? These are not bad people; these are good people. These are people like you and me who, without realizing it, choose att.i.tudes moment by moment and day after day that eventually become their lifestyle. Humor was not allowed in their lifestyle. No fun, no kidding or teasing, no relaxing banter between acquaintances, just a dry, joyless, wilderness existence. They had become desert wanderers. I'm getting thirsty just thinking about the life they are living and the att.i.tudes they have chosen.

The stone family didn't want to laugh about wrong things but eventually got to the place where they couldn't laugh at all! Especially not at themselves. That is a sure sign of wilderness living-the inability to laugh at oneself.

Can You Laugh At Yourself?

I've always told my kids: If you can't laugh at yourself, the whole world stinks. That's true. Like the man who fell asleep on the couch in his home, and his playful children put a piece of Limburger cheese on his moustache. When he woke up, he smelled something terribly wrong and ran through the house yelling, "Something in this room stinks! No, something in this house stinks!"

Unable to locate the trouble, he went out on the front porch and yelled at the top of his lungs, "This whole world stinks!" "This whole world stinks!"

LET'S TALK SOLUTION Remember that this chapter t.i.tle is "Replace a Complaining Att.i.tude . . ." Our concern has been to identify the telltale signs of complaining in our lives. Before I hint at the solution, I want to encourage you to continue immediately to the next chapter when you've finished reading this one. There we will put into practice an important spiritual principle: Once you empty something, you must fill it with something else. Jesus gave a chilling warning about the fate of someone who had a demon expelled but didn't fill the house with G.o.d's Spirit (Matthew 12:4345). The demon returned with friends and made the man's life worse than before! When we set out to replace a bad att.i.tude, we need to pray and then put a good att.i.tude in its place. You can't simply put off bad habits and live in a vacuum; you have to put on good ones in their place. Now let's look for a moment at solution steps. To do so, we need to ask ourselves some soul-searching questions. Ask yourself: 1. Am I a complainer? Am I a complainer? I challenge you to begin to pray from your heart, "G.o.d, am I a complainer?" Complaining is so hard to see in ourselves, especially when it's reached the habit stage. It's easy to see in others. When we complain, we say, "I'm just getting things off my chest." But when other people complain, we're quick to advise, "You're not helping anything." Let me ask you these clarifying questions: What two or three things about your life would you most like to change? Are you complaining about those things verbally or nonverbally? Are you accepting and thankful or resisting and complaining? I challenge you to begin to pray from your heart, "G.o.d, am I a complainer?" Complaining is so hard to see in ourselves, especially when it's reached the habit stage. It's easy to see in others. When we complain, we say, "I'm just getting things off my chest." But when other people complain, we're quick to advise, "You're not helping anything." Let me ask you these clarifying questions: What two or three things about your life would you most like to change? Are you complaining about those things verbally or nonverbally? Are you accepting and thankful or resisting and complaining?

2. Am I reaping the consequences of complaining in my relationship with G.o.d? Is that the problem? Am I reaping the consequences of complaining in my relationship with G.o.d? Is that the problem? Imagine that G.o.d whispered into your heart right now, "I'm listening. I'm listening. I hear everything you say. I hear every thought you think-all of it." Would that shed a new light on the landscape of our life? If your life lacks joy and a sense of G.o.d's favor and presence . . . if your heart is like a wilderness, it's your att.i.tudes. Imagine that G.o.d whispered into your heart right now, "I'm listening. I'm listening. I hear everything you say. I hear every thought you think-all of it." Would that shed a new light on the landscape of our life? If your life lacks joy and a sense of G.o.d's favor and presence . . . if your heart is like a wilderness, it's your att.i.tudes.

3. Am I willing to repent? Am I willing to repent? Am I willing to turn from that att.i.tude of complaining, acknowledge its wrongness, and ask G.o.d to change my att.i.tude? We've been in the Old Testament for this lesson, but let's highlight the good news with these closing thoughts. That good news we celebrate is the message of Jesus Christ. His death provided a way for us to be forgiven and cleansed and have a fresh start in life and in our att.i.tudes. We need only repent-agree with G.o.d that our complaints are sin- and choose to turn from complaining and ask His forgiveness. Am I willing to turn from that att.i.tude of complaining, acknowledge its wrongness, and ask G.o.d to change my att.i.tude? We've been in the Old Testament for this lesson, but let's highlight the good news with these closing thoughts. That good news we celebrate is the message of Jesus Christ. His death provided a way for us to be forgiven and cleansed and have a fresh start in life and in our att.i.tudes. We need only repent-agree with G.o.d that our complaints are sin- and choose to turn from complaining and ask His forgiveness.

I realize the above questions may have made you uncomfortable, but we will need to get over that. If you and I are serious about putting the wilderness behind us, we must get serious about why we're there, and that means answering probing questions at the end of every chapter. Questions like these help us accept responsibility for our att.i.tudes. If you blew off the questions above, please look at them again. And if G.o.d reveals complaining as a problem in your life . . . acknowledge it! And then turn from it. Otherwise, expect more wilderness ahead.

In the next chapter I will be talking about the wonderful, positive, life-giving att.i.tude that replaces complaining, but let me take a moment and share a bit of my own struggle in this area.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

On a personal level, complaining has definitely been an issue for me. I'm really thankful to G.o.d for a wife who many times has taken me aside and said, "Do you know what? You're not helping anything. Your complaints are not making anything better." Then she'll often say, "We need to stop and pray about this." I complain about incompetence, I complain about traffic and pressure, and weather and moral decline,and...I can feel the sinful pattern welling up in me even now as I write to you (better stop, ha, ha).

Countless times in years gone by, Kathy and I have sat together while I pray, "G.o.d, I'm sorry for my att.i.tude. It's wrong. I know it's not pleasing to You. Please forgive my complaining att.i.tude and cleanse my heart." The Lord has been so faithful to do that. In fact, I encourage you to take a moment and pray right now.

Look Up Lord, I thank You for Your Word. I thank You that You have revealed Yourself to me as You truly are. Thank You for directing Your holy, righteous anger at my complaining and how that keeps me from You. Thank You, Lord, that You not only love me, but You hate my complaining and the way that it makes my life like a desert.

In this moment, I ask that You would make me very aware of what I say and what I think. Keep the connection strong between how I deal with my circ.u.mstances and the joy that I experience. Forgive me for complaining, not just because of how it affects our relationship, but how it affects my relationships with those I love. Give me grace and faith to embrace the trials You allow, knowing what is best for me is always upon Your heart. Please teach me not to complain, and even as I look to this next chapter, teach me to put on the life-giving, joy-producing att.i.tude that goes in its place. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

CHAPTER 2:.

...WITH A THANKFUL ATt.i.tUDE.

LUKE 17:1119 SAY IT IN A SENTENCE: SAY IT IN A SENTENCE:.

Thankfulness is the att.i.tude that perfectly displaces my sinful tendency to complain and thereby release joy and blessing into my life.

The hardest part about writing a book on our att.i.tudes is keeping a good one while you're helping others work on theirs. Be encouraged, thou you're doing great! You're through the introduction and the first chapter and ready for more. Great things are ahead if you will press on with a humble, teachable att.i.tude.

In the last chapter, we saw G.o.d rain down fire from heaven. And lest we dismiss that action from G.o.d as "that was then, this is now," we also learned from 1 Corinthians 10:11 that what happened to them was recorded as an example to us. So the partial statement that summarized the last chapter was "Replace a Complaining Att.i.tude . . ."

We are concluding that statement in this chapter by adding, ". . . With a Thankful Att.i.tude." We're going to put off the old att.i.tude of complaining, and put on the new one of thankfulness. In fact, as you will see, thankfulness is the perfect replacement for complaining.

Do you know the story of Christ and the ten lepers-the time that Christ miraculously healed these ten dudes and only one even said thanks? If you ever thought thankfulness was not important to Christ, you were wrong. In fact, He got pretty steamed at the ungrateful ones. Let's look at the story more closely.

THANKLESSNESS IS NOTHING NEW.

"As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'" (Luke 17:1213). (Luke 17:1213).

This is nothing new. Since the beginning of time, humanity has called forth in an unbroken, mighty chorus: "G.o.d, do this for me! G.o.d, do that for me! G.o.d, I need this! G.o.d, I need that!" No time for G.o.d when things are going well; but in their moment of need, everyone is on their knees. Isn't it amazing that G.o.d in His infinite grace never tires of our fickle, thankless ways? "When He saw them," verse 14 continues, "He said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they were going, they were cleansed."

In the New Testament, leprosy is a broad term that covers a variety of skin diseases which brought pain and suffering and rendered the victim a virtual outcast from society. In order to get back to their families, they had to get approval from the priests, and this is what Jesus commanded them to do. In fact, it wasn't until they moved in that direction that they were actually healed. It wasn't until they had walked a fair distance from Christ that they began to say, "Hey! Check me me out! I'm completely healed!" "Me too! Look at this; I'm totally cleansed and whole!" All at once, all ten of them were healed; each had received an incredible gift from the Lord. out! I'm completely healed!" "Me too! Look at this; I'm totally cleansed and whole!" All at once, all ten of them were healed; each had received an incredible gift from the Lord.

When they saw they had been healed, nine kept going. Verse 15 begins: "Now "Now one one of them" of them" (italics added). Only one turned and walked back to Jesus in order to express his thankfulness. (italics added). Only one turned and walked back to Jesus in order to express his thankfulness. "When he saw that he had been healed, [he] turned back, glorifying G.o.d with a loud voice" "When he saw that he had been healed, [he] turned back, glorifying G.o.d with a loud voice" (verse 15). He was fired up with grat.i.tude! (verse 15). He was fired up with grat.i.tude!

Notice the humility. "He fell on his face at [Jesus'] feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan" "He fell on his face at [Jesus'] feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan" (verse 16). He not only fell down, but he did so as a Samaritan. That is very significant. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews as part of a complex and ancient racial prejudice. Though he was really outside the household of faith and had, on a human level, the fewest reasons to thank a Jewish man, this Samaritan returned gratefully. The point is, no one has an acceptable excuse for ungratefulness. Everyone can make the choice to give thanks and acknowledge the goodness and the grace of G.o.d. (verse 16). He not only fell down, but he did so as a Samaritan. That is very significant. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews as part of a complex and ancient racial prejudice. Though he was really outside the household of faith and had, on a human level, the fewest reasons to thank a Jewish man, this Samaritan returned gratefully. The point is, no one has an acceptable excuse for ungratefulness. Everyone can make the choice to give thanks and acknowledge the goodness and the grace of G.o.d.

Sadly, however, only a small fraction of the human population ever personally thanks G.o.d for His grace. Again, notice the contrast: a thankless nine and a thankful one. Ten actions received; ten att.i.tudes chosen, but only one person thankful. Att.i.tude is everything!nd Christ notices too. Indeed, Christ notices those who are ungrateful.

There is no doubt but that Christ Himself was aware and disturbed by such a flagrant instance of ungratefulness. "'Were there not ten cleansed?'" "'Were there not ten cleansed?'" Jesus asked (verse 17). It was a rhetorical question. He wasn't trying to figure it out; He was simply pointing out their outrageous, thankless att.i.tude. Jesus asked (verse 17). It was a rhetorical question. He wasn't trying to figure it out; He was simply pointing out their outrageous, thankless att.i.tude. "'Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to G.o.d, except this foreigner?'" "'Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to G.o.d, except this foreigner?'" (verses 1718). Just this one, who, based on the social injustices he had received, had many excuses for not coming and saying, "Thanks." If he could overcome all of that to express sincere grat.i.tude, how could the others walk away? (verses 1718). Just this one, who, based on the social injustices he had received, had many excuses for not coming and saying, "Thanks." If he could overcome all of that to express sincere grat.i.tude, how could the others walk away?

Then Jesus turned to the thankful man, saying, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well" "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well" (verse 19). Circle the word (verse 19). Circle the word well well. Jesus was not talking about being physically well. All ten of the lepers were made well. To say that his "faith had made him well" would be incredibly redundant, because the ones who didn't have any faith, those ones who didn't show any thankfulness, were also made well physically. Christ was saying in effect: "Because of your gratefulness-because of your thankfulness-you have been made well in a much deeper way than those who refused to be thankful."

G.o.d, OUR GRACIOUS PROVIDER.

Only when we acknowledge G.o.d as the gracious provider of general blessings, like life and breath, food and shelter, do we begin to comprehend our need for G.o.d in a personal way and begin to express faith in Him.

Let me say it again: Only when we recognize G.o.d as our gracious provider do we comprehend our need for G.o.d and begin to express faith in Him. That is a very significant point. Faith grows in the soil of thankfulness. Only when a person outside of Christ is willing to acknowledge-"Yes, there is a G.o.d. I have received much from His hand and probably owe Him something more than pa.s.sive acknowledgment. Perhaps I should turn and consider whether I ought to be reconciled to this G.o.d who made me and gives me life and strength"- only then will he be ready for faith. Faith to believe in G.o.d as the One to whom we must all be reconciled sprouts in the soil of gratefulness.

Paul made this same point on a cosmic scale in Romans 1, when he wrote that: -- G.o.d created the universe.

-- Within the heart of every human being is an awareness of the reality of G.o.d.

-- Apart from thankfulness, our awareness of G.o.d will always be suppressed.

As Romans 1:1920 declares, "Because that which is known about G.o.d is evident within them; for G.o.d made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen." "Because that which is known about G.o.d is evident within them; for G.o.d made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen." Only the most resolutely unbelieving person would ever stand and look at the universe and say, "There is no G.o.d." Only the most resolutely unbelieving person would ever stand and look at the universe and say, "There is no G.o.d." "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no G.o.d'" "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no G.o.d'" (Psalm 14:1). Any person with basic objectivity knows that all of this didn't come from a mindless and purposeless explosion. Random creativity doesn't make any more sense than taking a stick of dynamite, throwing it into a printing factory, and expecting the explosion to produce the Declaration of Independence. You don't get order from chaos, and there is no way that all we see around us could possibly exist without a G.o.d of some sort who brought it into existence. (Psalm 14:1). Any person with basic objectivity knows that all of this didn't come from a mindless and purposeless explosion. Random creativity doesn't make any more sense than taking a stick of dynamite, throwing it into a printing factory, and expecting the explosion to produce the Declaration of Independence. You don't get order from chaos, and there is no way that all we see around us could possibly exist without a G.o.d of some sort who brought it into existence.

OBJECTION! OBJECTION!.

You may object: "But I don't understand G.o.d." Yet still you must make a choice about His existence-the alternative being that our entire universe evolved from nothing. I f Independ#x2019;t think so! Design shouts Designer.

Now amazingly your capacity to make the right choice about the existence of G.o.d hinges on the level of thankfulness in your heart. As Paul argued, "For even though they knew G.o.d" "For even though they knew G.o.d" -even though there was something deep within them that said, "There is a G.o.d; there is a G.o.d"- -even though there was something deep within them that said, "There is a G.o.d; there is a G.o.d"- "they did not honor Him as G.o.d or give thanks" "they did not honor Him as G.o.d or give thanks" (Romans 1:21). At the root of mankind's rejection of G.o.d is a resolute unwillingness to be thankful. (Romans 1:21). At the root of mankind's rejection of G.o.d is a resolute unwillingness to be thankful. "But they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened." "But they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened." After that, things got really ugly. After that, things got really ugly.

My point to you is that all of the good things that G.o.d wants to bring into your life sprout in the soil of thankfulness, and I don't mean mere words.

Thankfulness is far more than saying the right words.

Genuine grat.i.tude must be distinguished from the kind of thanks we are programmed to spout as children. Maybe your mom was the same as mine. No sooner had someone given me half a cookie, than I felt her elbow and heard the whisper, "Say thanks. Say thanks!" By the time we were three years old, the MacDonald children had said "thanks" about a million times. Then, before we knew it, we were poking our own kids: "Say thanks. Say thanks."

But does it really mean anything? I'm sure you find yourself in public situations where politeness requires a steady stream of duty thanks, "Thanks. Thanks. Thanks."

"Here's your table, sir."

"Thank you."

"Here's your menu, sir."

"Thanks."

"Here's your coffee, sir."

"Thanks."

"More coffee, sir?"

"Thanks."

But as any waitress will tell you, the number of thanks and the amount of the tip do not necessarily go together. The kind of life-changing heart att.i.tude that G.o.d desires is much deeper than surface verbal grat.i.tude.

THE POWER OF THANKFULNESS.

Even in the often-G.o.dless corporate world, people are waking up to the power of grat.i.tude and discovering that it takes a lot more than free trips and Christmas bonuses for employees to feel appreciated. Recent studies have shown repeatedly that if employees don't feel genuine grat.i.tude from the people that they work for, bonuses are useless. Insincere grat.i.tude doesn't upgrade employee loyalty or productivity. If we are unmoved by perfunctory expressions of grat.i.tude, just imagine how unmoved G.o.d is.

One magazine, Mind and Body, Mind and Body, recently published an article ent.i.tled, "Twenty Ways to Feel Calmer, Happier, and Healthier" and the number one answer given was "to be thankful for all the good in your life." Researchers are recognizing that an att.i.tude of grat.i.tude directed toward G.o.d is a powerful source of health and personal well-being. recently published an article ent.i.tled, "Twenty Ways to Feel Calmer, Happier, and Healthier" and the number one answer given was "to be thankful for all the good in your life." Researchers are recognizing that an att.i.tude of grat.i.tude directed toward G.o.d is a powerful source of health and personal well-being. 1 1 Check out these studies that show the benefits of being thankful to G.o.d and acknowledging Him: Check out these studies that show the benefits of being thankful to G.o.d and acknowledging Him: -- Regarding stress. In a northern California study on stress, nearly seven thousand Californians showed that "West-Coast worshipers who partic.i.p.ate in church-sponsored activities are markedly less stressed over finances, health, and other daily concerns than non-spiritual types." 2 2 -- Regarding blood pressure. Elderly folks in a Duke University study on those who attend church, pray, and read the Bible regularly had lower blood pressure than their nonpracticing peers.

-- Regarding recovery from surgery. A second Duke University study looked at patients of faith recovering from surgery. People who have faith and trust and thankfulness toward G.o.d spend an average of eleven days in the hospital after magaanwhile, patients who have no faith-based life at all spend an average of twenty-five days in the hospital recovering from surgery. 3 3 -- Regarding personal lifestyle. A recent review of several studies suggests that spirituality is linked with low suicide rates, less alcohol and drug abuse, less criminal behavior, fewer divorces, and higher marital satisfaction when life is filled with regular thankfulness to G.o.d.

-- Regarding depression. I find this very interesting. Women with believing mothers are 60 percent less likely to be depressed ten years after they leave the home, according to a Columbia University study. Daughters belonging to the same religious faith as their mothers are 71 percent less likely to suffer the blues. Sons are 84 percent less likely to have life crises if they belong to the same faith group as their mothers.

-- Regarding mortality. Research on more than 1,900 older adults indicated that those who attend religious services regularly have a lower mortality rate than who do not. 4 4 Aren't those studies incredible? Even people who don't believe in G.o.d are recognizing that a G.o.d-centered, faith-oriented, thankful life is a healthier, happier life. Further proof of our overall thesis: Those who choose complaining as their lifestyle will spend their lifetimes in the wilderness. Those who choose complaining as their lifestyle will spend their lifetimes in the wilderness. By far, the better att.i.tude is grat.i.tude. By far, the better att.i.tude is grat.i.tude.

Test yourself. I dare you!

The word grat.i.tude grat.i.tude is defined in the Oxford Dictionary this way: "to show that a kindness received is valued." Genuine grat.i.tude requires that we get past obligation and somehow show that we deeply appreciate what we've received. Here's a test that will help you a.n.a.lyze whether your thankfulness is genuine or obligatory. Think back to the last time you were in church. What was going through your mind as you parked your car, got out, strolled into the building, pa.s.sed through the lobby, picked up a bulletin, and sat down? Truthfully, what was at the center of your heart? Did any of these thoughts enter your mind? is defined in the Oxford Dictionary this way: "to show that a kindness received is valued." Genuine grat.i.tude requires that we get past obligation and somehow show that we deeply appreciate what we've received. Here's a test that will help you a.n.a.lyze whether your thankfulness is genuine or obligatory. Think back to the last time you were in church. What was going through your mind as you parked your car, got out, strolled into the building, pa.s.sed through the lobby, picked up a bulletin, and sat down? Truthfully, what was at the center of your heart? Did any of these thoughts enter your mind?

-- What am I going to get today?

-- Am I going to be encouraged?

-- Will I like the pastor's message?

-- Will he keep my attention and make me smile?

-- I wonder who's singing today. Oh, I hope it's not _____ again; she is just awful!

-- Will I be glad I came?

If that kind of thinking was present as you "prepared" for worship, it reveals a self-centered, thankless theology that promotes complaining and stifles grat.i.tude. The truth is, if we never received another thing from G.o.d for the rest of our lives, we could still fill each day with genuine grat.i.tude: -- "Thank You, G.o.d, for this new day."

-- "Thank You for life that I can use to serve You."

-- "Thank You for breath that I can use to praise You."

-- "Thank You for health."

-- "Thank You, Lord, for strength."

But somehow we make the choice to turn from all that we've received and focus on what we still want to have. That's where complaining comes in. We minimize the blessings of life and magnify every negative circ.u.mstance we encounter.

"I can't believe the nursery workers are late again today," says an upset parent. "I am sick and tired of this lousy weather," a college student grouses. The litany of complaints continues: "Why can't the kids remember to pick up after themselves?" "n.o.body appreciates me." We focus on the negative around us, and life becomes a wilderness.

LEVELS OF GRAt.i.tUDE.

Instead, we need to develop our level of grat.i.tude. There are three levels of thankfulness: elementary school grat.i.tude, high school grat.i.tude, and gradue school grat.i.tude. Let's visit these schools of grat.i.tude.

The elementary level teaches us to be thankful in the most basic sense. It instructs us to "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to G.o.d, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name" "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to G.o.d, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15). (Hebrews 13:15). Elementary school Elementary school is the sacrifice of thankfulness. "Thanks, G.o.d. There, I've said it, G.o.d, so You should be happy." In effect, we say to G.o.d, "Fine! You helped me, and now I said thanks. My obligation has been met; I recognize Your involvement." Now that's something, but it's not much. As long as thankfulness is just a sacrifice, like, "Well, I'll do it if I have to, I guess," you might get to the edge of the Promised Land, but you won't find much joy, and you'll still feel the heat of the wilderness at your back. is the sacrifice of thankfulness. "Thanks, G.o.d. There, I've said it, G.o.d, so You should be happy." In effect, we say to G.o.d, "Fine! You helped me, and now I said thanks. My obligation has been met; I recognize Your involvement." Now that's something, but it's not much. As long as thankfulness is just a sacrifice, like, "Well, I'll do it if I have to, I guess," you might get to the edge of the Promised Land, but you won't find much joy, and you'll still feel the heat of the wilderness at your back.

Level two is a better place. I call it high school thankfulness. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of G.o.d in Christ Jesus concerning you" "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of G.o.d in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). In every situation, you and I can always find something to be thankful for-always. We can make that decision. We can look away from what's wrong and focus on what's right and give thanks. "In (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). In every situation, you and I can always find something to be thankful for-always. We can make that decision. We can look away from what's wrong and focus on what's right and give thanks. "In every thing every thing give thanks." That's kind of a high school version of thankfulness, and it does produce joy as long as you're not going through anything too difficult. give thanks." That's kind of a high school version of thankfulness, and it does produce joy as long as you're not going through anything too difficult.

But if you want the real joy-if you want to be done with the poverty, cheerless, joyless wilderness thing forever, then go on to level three-graduate school thankfulness. Be thankful for all all things. This is beyond the high school thankfulness that searches to find a good aspect in a challenging circ.u.mstance. This is the thankfulness that trusts G.o.d and thus is grateful for the bad things, even the things you wouldn't choose. things. This is beyond the high school thankfulness that searches to find a good aspect in a challenging circ.u.mstance. This is the thankfulness that trusts G.o.d and thus is grateful for the bad things, even the things you wouldn't choose. "Be filled with the Spirit,...giving thanks always for all things to G.o.d" "Be filled with the Spirit,...giving thanks always for all things to G.o.d" (Ephesians 5:18, 20 NKJV). (Ephesians 5:18, 20 NKJV).

This is the Mt. Everest of thankfulness, and it promises victory over every circ.u.mstance. Maybe you're reading this with a health crisis or a great sorrow that won't go away. Maybe you've got a financial need. You (and I) need to get to the place by faith where we can say, "Thank You, G.o.d. This is the thing that You're using in my life. You've allowed it because You love me, and I trust You. Thank You, G.o.d, even for this!" When we allow the Lord to bring us into that kind of thankfulness, we will experience a depth of joy we never thought possible.

POINTS OF VICTORY.

One afternoon, I was running late to pick up my three kids from the Christian school they attend. A lot of things had been going wrong, and I was shuffling down the hallway mumbling under my breath about my top five complaints at that moment. I knew my att.i.tude was wrong, but the negative emotion was very powerful, and I felt a complete inability to shut it off. Of course, I knew that victory was far more than putting a piece of duct tape over my mouth; I knew that something powerful had to replace my stinking thinking.

Just then I looked up and spotted on the wall in front of me a beautifully framed calligraphy of Psalm 107:8. The verse actually is repeated five times in that psalm as G.o.d pleads with us to put off complaining and put on genuine thankfulness. The New King James Version says it really well: "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord . . . for His wonderful works to the children of men!" "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord . . . for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31). (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31).

The verse was like a knife in my heart. And my subsequent reflection on its truth yielded three specific points of victory.

POINT ONE: THANKFULNESS IS A DECISION.

Thankfulness is a choice that we make. It's just as real as any other decision. The psalmist wrote, "Oh, that menuld give thanks to the Lord." the Lord." By men, of course, he meant men and women-mankind. Notice the verse says By men, of course, he meant men and women-mankind. Notice the verse says would would because if it said because if it said could could -"Oh, that men -"Oh, that men could could give thanks to the Lord"-well, then the ball would be in G.o.d's court, wouldn't it? And we would be free to say things like, "It's Your fault, G.o.d; if I give thanks to the Lord"-well, then the ball would be in G.o.d's court, wouldn't it? And we would be free to say things like, "It's Your fault, G.o.d; if I could could give thanks, then I would. If You hadn't made me so negative; if You hadn't made me so selfish; but I am, so I can't, but I would if I could, but You didn't, so I can't, so . . . whatever." But it doesn't say give thanks, then I would. If You hadn't made me so negative; if You hadn't made me so selfish; but I am, so I can't, but I would if I could, but You didn't, so I can't, so . . . whatever." But it doesn't say could, could, it says it says would, would, so the choice is ours. so the choice is ours.

"Oh, that men would . . ." This means "we have the technology"- G.o.d has made us with the capacity to express grat.i.tude. It's a choice that we make. What a critical, happiness-inducing choice it really is! You can choose your att.i.tude of grat.i.tude as much as you can choose your diet or your underwear.

Recently, I spoke to the students, faculty, and staff at Cedarville College (Ohio). In the evenings, I spoke about Jonah. The call to Jonah-and the students-was to stop running from G.o.d and submit to His relentless pursuit. 5 5 It turned out to be an amazing week. G.o.d was working as powerfully as I have ever seen. By Wednesday night, I could hardly wait to get into the worship center. The place was packed with almost 3,000 eager students, their Bibles open. We sang some songs, and began moving into an att.i.tude of worship and attentiveness to G.o.d's Spirit.

All of a sudden, the doors flew open, and police officers came running down the aisle. They were dripping wet and in a hurry. Up on the platform they came, with their blaring walkie-talkies and all-business demeanor. They approached the school president who was sitting beside me, so I heard the urgent news. The officer in charge said, "A tornado is coming this way. You must get the students out of this room as quickly as possible."

It is heartwarming to watch a great leader in action. The college president walked to the center of the stage and in a calm and clear voice said, "Students, listen carefully to these instructions. We just received a report that we may be in the path of a tornado. We need to exit the worship center as quietly and as quickly as possible and take shelter."

Some kids were screaming and yelling a bit, but a general sense of order prevailed as we were directed into rooms with no exterior walls or windows and told to get down low. We couldn't see what was going on outside, and so we didn't have a sense of how immediate the danger really was. Word eventually came that we could go back upstairs. At that point, I didn't know if they were going to go forward with the service and my message from Jonah 3 on how to experience personal revival.

When we got back into the worship center, there was a new atmosphere of seriousness among the students. We sang a couple more songs and then I got up to preach.