Grateful HeartsSample

Unconditional Gratitude

Habakkuk was one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament and successor to King Josiah. His messages were known for his claim to God in the face of the injustices of the people.

Just by reading the first chapter of his book, I can relate to many of his expressions.

"Therefore the law is paralyzed and justice never prevails." Habakkuk 1:4

The problem with claims like this is that many people take an attitude of conditional gratitude to God. To blame God for all the bad things people do is to have an attitude of conditional gratitude.

Let me explain:

Conditional gratitude is one of "If and then."

"If everything goes well", "If it goes as I want", "If I receive what I ask for"...,

....then, I will thank God."

Meditate: How many people have you seen who have turned away from God or refuse from thanking Him for His goodness because of the injustices of the world?

The gratitude that is expected from a true believer does not make use of a conditional "If and then", but an unconditional"Even if not...".

Consider this:

"Even if it doesn't go well",

"Even if it doesn't go the way I want",

"Even if I don't get what I ask for",...

… I will thank God and recognize that He is good, worthy, and just.

Read today's key verse from the prophet Habakkuk. A prayer ofunconditional gratitude to God recognizes that, in the end, the most precious treasure we have is salvation.

Prayer: Lord, give us a heart that learns to thank you unconditionally always no matter the outcome. Help us to understand that—even if things don't always go as we expect on this earth—in the end the most important thing is to have you on our side. In Jesus' name, Amen.