A quick internet check shows me that heart disease, including heart attacks, is the number one cause of death in the United States. In fact, it is the number one cause of death worldwide. It’s a good reminder that we need to be heart healthy.

But my question has more to do with your spiritual heart. How is it? Our spiritual well-being is critical to our daily lives, just as a physically strong heart is important for our physical health. We can be strong physically but mentally and spiritually be on a downward spiral.

Each year in November the folks in the United States take time to focus on giving thanks. The fact is, being thankful ought to be a day-in, day-out experience.

Noted Methodist author and professor Donald M. Demaray once wrote on the value of giving thanks:

The magic of a thankful spirit is that it has the power to replace…

Anger with love,

Resentment with happiness,

Fear with faith,

Worry with peace,

Jealousy with joy at another’s success,

Lack of creativity with inspired productivity,

Inferiorities with dignity,

A lack of love with an abundance of self-sharing.

Over and over again, the Apostle Paul gave instructions to his friends to be thankful.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 NLT

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

Eugene Peterson interpreted Paul’s admonition in everyday language:

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him…. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7 MSG

Thanksgiving is not a day. It is a way of life that leads to a healthy heart, a healthy life, and a healthy ministry, and brings glory to our Lord Jesus.

God’s best,