A certain man had a habit of grumbling and complaining at the food his wife placed before him at family meals. He was never satisfied with what was placed before him. He then would bow his head and ask the blessing for the food.

One day after his usual combination of complaint-prayer, his little girl asked, "Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?"

"Why, of course," he replied. "He hears us every time we pray."

She paused and thought about this for a moment, and asked, "Does He hear everything we say the rest of the time?"

"Yes, dear, every word," he replied, encouraged that he had inspired his daughter to be curious about spiritual matters. However, his pride was quickly turned to humility at his daughter's next question.

"Then, which does God believe?"

Every year, we come together at Thanksgiving to join our family and friends for a traditional meal in thankfulness for all the blessings we have received. But how many of us, like this man, spend the rest of the year grumbling at those blessings. We're thankful for the things God blesses us with, but at the same time, find ourselves wishing the blessing was bigger or better. God hears them both, so, which does God believe? This action of partial thankfulness doesn't make us thankful at all.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 challenges us, as children of God, to be thankful in all circumstances! No matter the size of the blessing. "All circumstances" also includes those times of trial in which we can't find a reason to be thankful for. You see, Thanksgiving, more than a Holiday, is an action. Each year during this season, we are encouraged to find something to be thankful for each day. By the end of the month we will have, at least, 30 things that God has blessed us with to be thankful for! It is said that if you do something for 30 days, that thing becomes a habit. Let's make thankfulness without grumbling a habit this season. Start today and write down something new every day this month. When we are whole-heartedly thankful we are filled with joy and there is no room for grumbling!

Suggested Prayer: Dear Lord, the blessings you have given me are too numerous to count, but today I want to begin by thanking you for my salvation; for your death on the cross that granted me the forgiveness of my sins and eternal life in Jesus' name, Amen.

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT).

Today's Encounter was written by: Veronica B.