The average westerner thinks of a national holiday surrounded by food, family, friends and fun when they encounter the word “thanksgiving”. A typical African imagines an elaborate ceremony or service characterized by colorful apparel, spirited music, joyful dance, eloquently worded prayers of appreciation, and an aftermath of savory delights of every variety. A classic grammarian, educator, or instructor immediately considers linguistic accuracy, appropriate manners or mannerisms, or proper etiquette when confronted with the same. As is often the case, one word evokes different thought processes representative of various life lenses.
The Bible is replete with variously worded injunctions to give thanks, praise, honor, veneration, or the like to God, most notably in the Psalms but copiously splattered over the other sixty-five books as well. Where explicit instructions to that effect are unstated, the allusions are evident in the implicit narratives, illustrations, poetic verse, and simple historical accounts that comprise this divinely inspired compendium.
Gratitude’s Attitude
The Gospels demonstrate Jesus’s exemplification of this concept as a lifestyle when they unveil glimpses of His public and private prayer life. The epistles propose the same from the vantage of personal encounters and references to interpretive Old Testament text. The average follower of Jesus is taught to embody the same, the practice’s limitless virtues and benefits extolled as incentivizing means to a glorified and profitable end. Warnings abound regarding the perils of a thankless and ungrateful attitude, and the means to avoid and avert these odious pitfalls. Little is said about the practical tools/insights necessary to identify, confront and overcome the nuanced challenges these followers face in trying to execute and incorporate this command as a daily way of life.
This missive is intended to underscore some merits of the attitude and practice of thanksgiving. It also hopes to highlight the superior technological abilities God’s Word exerts. It has practical application in identifying, destroying and preventing stealth attacks which serve as life-depleting barriers to experiencing the full and flourishing advantages of the God-kind of life. But first, we define biblical thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is the ongoing practice of the conveyance of deep gratitude, admiration and every similar assertion of honor, value, and indebtedness. It takes on various forms of expression, from simple verbalizations of gratitude to heartwarming spiritual platitudes, to flamboyant acknowledgements of divine solicitude … and is always reflective of a beholden heart attitude … or should be. It distinct yet inseparable from the practices of praise, worship, adulation, etc. which are usually articulated through verse, song, dance, or other creative means of communication. Its communication transcends mere vocalizations though – it originates from a humble and grateful heart directly connected to God’s Spirit.
Given the depth of God’s love and benevolence, thanksgiving and its associated activities and expressions should come easily to everyone, but this is often not the case. There is the small matter of life and the things it throws at a person …
Gratitude’s Latitude
Beyond computing, geography and photography, latitude is defined as the scope, berth, or breadth to behave, choose, possess, express, have an opinionin or think the way one desires; it is thefreedom from narrow restrictions. Think of wide-open meadows containing large expanses of land where persons are free to run, jump, play, dance, party, meet, build, plant, harvest, store, etc. to their heart’s content. This is the intent and one of the primary benefits of the practice of thanksgiving – it opens a person up to new experiences, heights, doors, opportunities, etc., of enrichment and enlargement, i.e., propels and position into wide open spaces!
Gratitude begets latitude i.e., the freedom of expansion and opportunities for wide open spaces in life and destiny (Isaiah 33:5, 21, Psalms 18:17-21; Psalms 31:7-8; 118:5; 119;45; 2 Samuel 22:20; Luke 17:12-19; Psalms 50:14-15; 23; 65:11; 66:12)!
Latitude’s Computing Hacks
Malware of every kind may attack a device’s operating system. Without the necessary preprogrammed precautions, they may remain undetected for some time while wreaking great havoc. Such attacks typically obstruct normal technological functions and communication pathways, hindering healthy processes and ultimately, effecting great damage to the operating system or its parent organization.
Similarly, major spiritual, psychological, and other impediments may unobtrusively attack the believer, maliciously damaging major functions, yet undetected under the guise of outward religious practices bereft of inward preemptive dealings. When the benefits of a vibrant and thankful spiritual life are notably limited or lacking, such individuals may languish in flagrant frustration, either bravely forging on in a façade of a happy, flourishing life while their faith, joy, and conviction inwardly wither, or worse, may grow cynical, callous, embittered, and cold towards God and their identification with the Christian faith.
A person’s positioning for latitide (as defined above) is everythig in computing. It allows for limitless possibilities and experiences. The freedom of expression and ability to create multifactorial functions and processes greatly enhances productivity. Explore with me a few hacks experts tell us make for an optimized user experience ….
Firewall Install
Most individuals and organizations invest a considerable amount of money to protect their intellectual property, data, and systems. In computing, firewalls are used to accomplish this. A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network, such as the Internet1.
In the usual course of life, we may encounter many undesirable traffic situations that are best avoided, if possible, to ensure one is not indefinitely stuck or worse still, involved in a tragic accident. Disappointment, despair, depression, disbelief (an evil heart of unbelief) and disrepute (shame) are but a few of the undesirable traffic elements that every believer must successfully deal with to protect their valuable life assets. Jesus’ promise of abundant life2 does not suggest a challenge-free existence, but strongly assures of the victory in each battle and conquest over every foe3.
Install the firewall of God’s Word as a spoken standard over your life4, as well as the weapons of praise, worship, song, and dance to tackle, divert and keep unwanted traffic out of your terrain.
Gripe Swipe
A computer mouse is a hardware input device that controls the cursor and thus allows for pointing, moving, and selecting text, icons, files, folders, etc. Recent technological advances have replaced the cumbersome handheld mouse with a simple swiping function on tablets, smartphones, and some laptops. This, along with tapping replaces mouse movements, enables greater speed and agility on the device while minimizing hand movements.
Griping is one of the most destructive vices a person can engage in, stemming from a heart of ingratitude and criticism, always finding fault with someone or something. People with this mindset usually see the proverbial glass as half-empty rather than half full and often harbor a simmering, just-below-the-surface “Bah! Humbug!” attitude very reminiscent to that of the famed Scrooge5.
This attitude is the direct antithesis to one of gratitude and is the very thing that cost the first generation of liberated Israelites access to their promised land6. Their posture/frame of mind was so repugnant to God that He rescinded His original plans and literally swore that they would not set foot into the place He had prepared for them7.
It goes without saying that replacing the repulsiveness of ingratitude and complaining with the more advantageous technology of thanksgiving and appreciation is most favorable for anyone. Replacing negative mindsets with the life-eluting perspective of the Word swipes out the gripe. It opens portals of abundant possibilities and blessings while shutting the destructive and destiny-eluding vices that boorishness promulgates!
Upload Mode
The attitude of appreciation is not a gift; it does not arrive pre-programmed into the human psyche. Like other positive character traits, it is an asset that must be intentionally cultivated and assimilated into one’s subconscious and lifestyle i.e., it must be programmed and uploaded onto a person’s hard drive. Anything less becomes obvious in the responses (or lack thereof) to the happenings around the individual.
The frequency with which flagrant demonstrations of ingratitude are encountered is alarming. This may be represented by minor oversights in expressing appreciation for the simple and mundane, casual responses to heartfelt gestures, habitual disregard of acts of kindness, frank disdain or overt denigration of favors shown, etc. Whichever way it manifests, ingratitude at any level is deplorable and highly inadvisable.
Jesus was appalled when only one leper returned to give thanks after ten had been healed,8 yet His graciousness and benevolence are par to none. I would daresay God marvels similarly when His people take His graces for granted or worse still, demonstrate a sense of entitlement that disparages or diminishes the benevolences He has already bestowed.
It is advisable to upload and maintain the mode of appreciation, constantly thanking and lauding God for and celebrating His unending mercies and ever-abiding faithfulness. Every single morning, your page is refreshed with His goodness and steadfast love9, furnishing new opportunities for unparalleled celebrations and reinvigorating expectations!
Code Download
Due to daily encumbrances and the vicissitudes of life, it becomes easy to lose sight of all one already has, all God has already done, and all the negative things that could have occurred but did not. It is easy to focus on all one does not have, all that has gone wrong, and all that has not yet happened. This focus naturally engenders negativity, discouragement, self-pity and a host of other negative feelings and attitudes that can be damaging and counterproductive. One of the best ways to circumvent this downward spiral is to remember all that God has already done in and for you.
Psalms 103 and a host of other scriptures10 enjoin the believer to bless the Lord and NOT forget all the wonderful things He has done! Remembrance is the key to maintaining a grateful heart. It is the code that unlocks a spirit of genuine thanksgiving and praise in the heart of the believer. It activates a heartfelt sense of appreciation for all that has occurred and instills a strong sense of hope for the things yet to be experienced. Jewish celebrations till this day utilize songs, verse, and dance to recount God’s mighty acts and to retell the stories of His amazing goodness. This ensures the perpetuity of a national and individual awareness and an appreciation that traverses the generations.
Make it a habit to download the unfailing access code of the remembrance of God’s goodness. If engaged for a sufficient duration, it never ceases to evoke a sense of joyful gratitude that spurs unwavering anticipation for the things that have not yet manifested but are guaranteed to come – sure Words of prophecy certain to happen in their time!
Java Optimization
Java is one of the most popular programming technologies in the world, utilized across multiple servers, applications, and platforms, and is purported to be relatively easy to learn and use. It has a software application of the same name created by the same developer and supposedly derives its name from the java coffee bean. This is of particular interest to me, living in a city dually known as the coffee capital of the U.S. as well as one of its leading technological hubs.
Every coffee lover knows that the best coffee is ill ingested solitarily. To fully enjoy the wonders of its aromatic flavors, coffee must be paired with a sumptuous snack (or two!) – the way a glove enjoys the most relevance when paired with its corresponding hand. Keep this dynamic duo concept in mind as we segway into the associated world of sweet treats, which we will define here by the term “Truly Scrumptious!”
Truly Scrumptious (my fondness for the name rivaled only by that of her co-character’s – Caractacus Potts, his being real-life names!), culled from the timeless children’s musical – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! – is one of my favorite fictional names (as is her character’s eponymous song). My impish side finds quite fascinating the hilarity of the alluring mental images it conjures of an abundance of savory confectioneries and their captivating, mouthwatering flavors. Psalms 34:8; 119:103; 1 Peter 2:3; Psalms 63:5; SOS 2:3; Jeremiah 31:14 are all reflective of the delectable delights that are offered in God once we accept the invitation to banquet at His table of profound pleasures!
Optimize your operating system with a delightful drink from the river of God’s pleasures11 and the tasty trifles of His goodness! Make it your aim to experience for yourself the “Truly Scrumptious” nature of His extravagant benevolence!
Deploy Joy
In its IT context, deployment encompasses the processes involved in getting new software or hardware up and running properly in its environment, including installation, configuration, running, testing, and making necessary changes. The word “implementation” is sometimes used to convey the same meaning12.
For the believer in Christ, joyfulness it not optional; it is a commanded fruit of the Spirit13-14. Joy must be deployed for any believer to operate smoothly and successfully, and the most natural means for its deployment is the deliberate meditation on God and His Word13, 15, 16. His Word infuses His perspective, which in turn infuses joy and gratitude into a person’s heart and mind. I’m yet to meet a genuinely joyful person who is not a truly grateful individual, and vice versa. Deploy joy!
Cyber Subjugation
Most computer systems utilize antivirus software to scan, detect, prevent, and delete viruses from the operating system. Most antivirus software run automatically in the background to provide real-time protection against virus attacks. Technologists tell us that comprehensive virus protection programs help protect files and hardware from all sorts of malware.
In a believer’s life, malware appears in many forms – anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealously, strife, gossip, variance, lust, greed – the list is long. These vices do not merely infect aspects of the believer’s operating system; they eventually erode other areas as well. The destructive and deceitful nature of sin should never be underestimated. It must be swiftly and effectively identified and resolved for a believer to operate optimally. Anything otherwise portends to sub-par functioning. The insidious cyber contagion will eventually erode the entire operating system and cause a systems crash; it is just a matter of time.
One of the most formidable aspects of the security systems pre-programmed into a believer’s life is the subjugating blood of Jesus, sufficiently efficacious in destroying sin, sickness, and every other threat with which the forces of darkness may attempt to infect one’s operating system.
Activate this indefatigable arsenal daily and as often as needed to scan, detect, prevent, delete, and destroy demonic viruses and other cyber-attacks via the habitual practice of prayer, repentance, and adequate time in God’s Word and presence (worship).
Data Integration
Data integration is the process of combining data from different sources into a single, unified view. In simple terms, it is the combination of disparate pieces of information into one sole information source, i.e., it is the computing means of consolidating concepts or “tying things together”. What then do gratitude, latitude, beautiful scenic views, a laptop, and geographic coordinates have in common? Probably not a lot, other than the author’s propensity for and roguish delight in utilizing alliterative, reiterative, and (hopefully) cogitative phrases and parallels to emphasize salient thoughts being communicated!
Please enjoy with me the following songs with which we can extend our latitude by heartfelt shows of gratitude ….
You Have Done It Again:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4rDZCvX4Df8&feature=share
A Thousand Hallelujahs:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ga057VTHdP0&feature=share
You’re Worthy Of It All:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=x1UT7vmoeFc&feature=share
The Goodness of God:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE&feature=share
The Doxology:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=XEA0F7c1sGQ&feature=share
Bibliography
1. Wikipedia {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(computing)}
2. John 10:10
3. Romans 8:31-37
4. Isaiah 59:19; Psalms 107:2; Isaiah 13:2; 62:10
5. Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol (1843)
6. Exodus 14:10-12; 16: 2-3; Numbers 11:4-6; 14:22-23; 27-35; Psalms 78:40-42; 1 Cor 10:5; 8-11; Philippians 2:14-16; Hebrews 4:2;
7. Hebrews 3:10-12; 16-19.
8. Luke 17:12-19
9. Lamentations 3:22-23
10. Psalms 103:2; Isaiah 63:7; Psalms 105:5; 106:7, 21; Deut 6:12; 8:2-4; 32:18; 2 Chronicles 32:25; Psalms 111:2-4; Psalms 78:5-7; 102:18
11. Psalms 36:8
12. Techtarget.com
13. Philippians 4:4
14. Galatians 5:16
15. Psalms 19:7-8
16. Jeremiah 15:16