Gratitude
is a very powerful tool for health and happiness. Paul explains this when he
exhorts us to pray with thanksgiving, as we make our requests known to God
(Philippians 4:6). This practice allows us to thrive in body, soul and
spirit.
Even
when our finite human mind sees no way out of our situation, God has His
perfect path for us. We rejoice and feel gratitude toward God for what He has
done, is doing, and will do for us all the days of our life. This allows us to
rise above anxiety.
We
know that God plants a seed for a miracle in every trial we will ever face. He
has a higher purpose for us, and this tribulation is drawing us into more
intimacy with Him. He is working out every facet of this situation for our good
(Romans 8:28).
An
attitude of gratitude means that we constantly thank God for and in every ordeal
we experience, and for every blessing we receive from Him. We grow in grace and
in our knowledge of Him (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 5:3-5;
James 1:1-4).
We
accomplish God's will for our life out of our gratitude for Jesus' ultimate
sacrifice for us on Calvary's cross (Colossians 3:17). Those who live godless
and wicked lives, and who suppress the truth about God's love, and who feel no
gratitude toward Him lose out on God's blessings (Romans 1:18-21).
When
we take the time to journal five specific things we are grateful for each night
before we fall asleep, we sleep more soundly and wake up with more peace and
joy than ever before, regardless of our circumstances.
Prayer:
Father
God, thank You for all that You do for us each moment of every day. Even those
blessings that we are unaware of at this time, and the little hugs You give us
throughout the day nurture us in body, soul and spirit. Thank You for Your
amazing power and graciousness that support us each moment, and for the hope
You inspire in us regardless of our circumstances.
We
appreciate You for strengthening us in our affliction, for sustaining us
through deprivation, and for girding us during times of abandonment and
ridicule and exclusion from the lives of our family and friends. We depend upon
Your mercy and grace in every issue we face, and we rely on our unity with You
through each moment of our day.
Thought
for the Day:
Gratitude
inspires us to live in peace and joy as we focus on who God is, what He does
for us, and what He will do for us in the future; we only need to center our thoughts
and emotions on the joy that He sets before us, because we can depend on Him
through it all.
