Gratitude is a lost art in today’s society. We are impatient, self-centered, rude and critical instead. We over-look the good that people do to bless us, demand perfection from them, and criticize their efforts rather than to show gratitude, patience and appreciation for them.
We are not so perfect our self, and we often frustrate others, even with our best efforts. Their ingratitude hurts our feelings, and often makes us bitter or angry toward those who criticize us and fail to show us appreciation for our efforts; yet we perpetuate this rudeness by our own attitude and behavior toward others.
We do this with God too. We fail to see His constant stream of love pouring over us all day long, because we are looking for grand gestures and specific results to our prayers. Yet, He is preparing a place in heaven for us (John 14:2-3), and He also took away the sting of death for Believers that unbelievers experience (John 3:18). If we allow Him to do so, He daily floods our soul with His love, joy and peace.
Gratitude allows us to treat our self and others with more compassion. The more gratitude we express to God, the more that He supplies our needs with His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19). He provides for us from birth to death and beyond into eternity. He is totally worthy of every bit of praise for Him that wells up in our heart.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for providing for all of our needs with the abundant supply that You have in Heaven. We praise Your name for considering our needs even before You ever formed us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139). You even know what we need before we do, and You are ready with an abundant supply. Your peace, joy and assurance are ours now and forever more.
We appreciate all that You did and do and will do for us: Salvation for our spirit through the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary’s cross; Your sanctification of the negative thoughts, words, emotions and choices of our soul – our feelings, choices and ruminations of our mind; and Your ultimate salvation for our body when You give us a glorified body like Jesus had after His resurrection.
Thought for the Day:
We never face a minute in life or death alone, because the presence of the Trinity of God abides within us from the moment of our salvation; we yoke up with Jesus and He gives us His burden to carry, which is easy and light compared to what we usually encumber our self with during our lifetime.
- Matthew 11:28-30
