Do you have an attitude of Gratitude? Sometimes being thankful feels like it's costing us instead of blessing us. I mean, why should we give thanks? Our world is really crazy and so chaotic. What is there to be thankful for?
Questions like this make us wonder, doesn't it? Not many people are thinking about giving thanks to God, and I admit it. I was just like that quite a few years ago. I used to wake up every day consumed with negative thoughts. My mind was pessimistic before my feet hit the floor. I found myself complaining and unhappy pretty much all the time. It took me a while, but I was hooked when I realized that being thankful lifted my heart and mind. It made a massive difference in my disposition toward life. After learning to be grateful every day, everything changed for me.
Do you remember the Bible story of the ten leopards healed by Jesus? He told them to go see the priest, and on the way, they were cleansed. There were nine Jews and one Samaritan. But only the Samaritan returned to say thank you to Jesus for healing him. It says in Luke 17:17-19, the King James Version, And Jesus answered, " Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. The Samaritan was made whole. He was healed physically and spiritually, while the others were just healed. This is what happens to us when we give thanks to God for all he does for us. Big or small, we need to remember to have a heart of Thanksgiving for the lessons we go through, the good and hard times, because without those times, we wouldn't depend on God, but when we give thanks, He showers us with his love.
It says in Thessalonians 5:18, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. I know it's tough to find the positive when bad things come to us, and it's even easy to forget to be thankful after something good happens. We forget who helped us, but when we give thanks, we find God's grace pouring from our hearts by putting God first.
As we look at the word Gratitude, it's in the Bible 157 times, and the word Thanksgiving is in it 102 times. What's more important is how they are used. Like in this scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause Thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Is it possible that we could live in a world with so much Thanksgiving in its heart that we see it overflow? I know I want to see that.
Maybe we should try saying at least ten things we are grateful for daily. You can say something like, thank you, God, that I have breath in my lungs, that I got up this morning, and that I have you, Lord, in my life. I mean, those are beautiful things to be thankful for. Let alone pray prayers of Gratitude for something that hasn't even happened yet.
Finding time to praise God will change your life. He's the amazing one and the one we should thank for everything. So take time every day to have an attitude of gratitude and see how he touches your life.
Let's pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, we have so much to be thankful for, Lord. Thank you that I was able to get up this morning. Thankful that you helped me through my day. We know without you, Lord, we couldn't do it without the peace you give us and the joy you put in our hearts. You give us that. Thank you for your Word that you give us the strength each day to follow it. In Jesus Holy name, we pray. Amen
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