Lately I've been learning more about how powerful gratitude is. It seems it's the best remedy for just about every negative thought or attitude.
Maybe that's why God said to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:18)
Obviously thankfulness helps us combat complaining and grumbling. But I've also been seeing it work for -
- impatience: instead of wanting something NOW, give thanks that God knows the perfect timing for me.
- a critical spirit: rather than picking apart some thing or someone, thank God for it (or them) and for how He's working in and through it (or them)
- sorrow & grief: when my heart is breaking, thank my Father that He knows my pain, that He is my Healer, that my sorrow is only temporary because one day He will wipe away all my tears.
- worry: instead of fretting about things I can't change, give thanks that my Heavenly Father is in control of all things, and that HE can change anything!
These are just a few of the ways I've been trying to practice gratitude lately. I know it's so simple, I've heard it for years, but I thought it was just something I SHOULD do.
Now I think I'm finally beginning to see what a precious gift it is. Not that it's always easy, but when I do give thanks, it always brings good results in my heart and mind. Like God said in Psalm 50:23:
"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
Giving thanks honors God, but it also prepares our hearts for more of Him.
The passage about gratitude that continues to stand out in my mind is Colossians 2:6-7:
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
I don't want to just give thanks at meals or when someone reminds me I should. I want to OVERFLOW with thankfulness!
Lord, make it so. Amen.
Whatever you're experiencing today, I pray you'll have a joyful Easter, OVERFLOWING with gratitude to our Lord Jesus for His love and power!
Blessings,
-Joanna
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2 comments:
Hi Joanna,
The Lord has been teaching me the same things over the last I don't know how many years, maybe 9 years,
and it just goes deeper and deeper.
I have been doing a Thankful Thursday post for almost 2 years now on my blog and I can not tell you how that has changed my life and my outlook on life. It is truly amazing and wonderful.
Hopefully next week, I am gonna try to get in touch with my Pastors and see if they would be willing to read your book, so they can pass it on, I have one, but if they all say yes, I would need 4 more, and I am not in a position to buy them right now or I would, so would it be possible for you to send me 4 more if they say yes to reading them?? Email me and let me know okay?? Thanks sweetie, this was a great post, and I can attest it is
right on target!!
Blessings for a Wonderful Easter
Celebration. He has Risen, He has Risen Indeed!
Love ya, Nellie
It has been my privilege to care for my Mother down in Brasil for as long our tourist visas let us stay (180 days a year) for the last 4 years. Without fail, we are always nursing her back to health after some painful broken bone, sometimes needing surgery. BUT without fail, when she is hurting or going through difficulty, she speaks aloud to the Lord Jesus and always praises His Name! She thinks none of us are hearing her... and there she is repeating over and over again, her thanks to Him for who He is and all He means to her. This has brought great joy to my heart.
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