Gratitude

 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Psalm 50:14 NLT

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

For the trees swaying in the wind,

For the gift of friendship,

For the simple pleasures of laughter,

For sunshine warming my skin,

For life,

For hope,

For salvation,

God, I thank you.

 

Gratitude.

The art of giving thanks to God transforms the perspective. It makes me realize the magnitude of my blessings. Gratitude causes me to be still and reflect on God's goodness, faithfulness, and loving kindness in my life. Dwelling in a constant state of gratitude allows me to appreciate the life I have been given. When I am immersed in thanksgiving, life just seems brighter, and I can notice how God has smiled on me. When thanksgiving is always in our hearts and on our lips, we allow joy to reign in our lives. Gratitude is powerful. Be grateful for the little things, like flowers in bloom, the beauty of the sky, and the majesty of trees.

Gratitude causes us to focus on the good. It causes us to be very excellent at noticing the blessing located in every circumstance. When we endure difficult testing and trials but can give thanks amid the valley, we will be more likely to persist and get through difficult times. When we give thanks for the seemingly little things in life, it gives us a zest for life. There is this hymn that I absolutely love. It is  called Count Your Blessings. It basically talks about being aware of all the ways  God has blessed us. It says: "Count your blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done." This hymn speaks of the power of gratitude. It reminds us that there is always something to give God thanks for. Always. Gratitude causes us to behold the good in everything. Gratitude is God’s will for us. He wants us to live lives filled to the brim with thanksgiving. When we are grateful to God, our minds are oriented to the goodness of God. We begin to look for His fingerprints in everything. Instead of complaining about the quality of our lives, we can sing with glee and fervor in the middle of challenges. Gratitude to our Creator enables us to dwell on His promises. Gratitude allows us to appreciate our Creator for not just what he gives us but for who He is. For His character, for His attributes.

Some ways in which we can practice gratitude are :

1.      Keep a gratitude journal. This is a beautiful way to practice gratitude. By writing down everything there is to be grateful for, we can keep a record that we can always look back on to receive encouragement in difficult times. There is something about seeing all the blessings of God, all the evidence of His great love for us. Writing down our gratitude allows us to commit to memory everything we have to  be grateful for.

2.      Practice saying “ Thank you , God” every time we awaken and every time we are about to go to sleep. Thank you, God, for breath. Thank you, God, for another day of life. Thank you, God, for bringing me through this day. Thank you, God, for keeping me safe. Thank you, God, for who You are. Thank you, God, that You are good. Thank you, God, that your love endures forever.

3.      Express gratitude to everyone we meet , whether the person is a stranger or a loved one. Say thank you to the bus driver as we reach our stop. Say thank you to the cashier as we pick up  our groceries. Express appreciation to others. It will really have an impact on our relationships for the better.

Thank you, God, for life. Thank you, God, for another opportunity to give You thanks. Thank You for Your provision. Thank You for who You are. Thank You for your goodness. Thank you, God, for Your Sovereignty. Thank You, God.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen