Morning Y'all! I pray this post encourages you and gives God glory! Got suggested topics you want me to write about? Please comment below or email me at info@mocatoday.com.
In the spirit of thanks, along with Thanksgiving next week, let's explore gratitude a bit deeper...
What is gratitude?
According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, gratitude means the state of being thankful.
International Leadership Institute defines,
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and showing appreciation. It is a mark of a Spirit-filled life.
Pastor Tony Evans (Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship) writes—
An attitude of thanksgiving should dominate the life of the believer. Ingratitude is the mark of the devil. Satan whispers in our ears to make us think God has taken good things away from us. God wants us to look at what He has freely given to us. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). We have so much to be thankful for. ~Pastor Tony Evans
Apostle Paul wrote that we are to give thanks in everything:
Give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:18 (CSB)
Notice, Apostle Paul didn't say we are to give thanks in some things or in some circumstances... Instead, he advises we give thanks in all things, in all circumstances!
Personally, we can easily be thankful for good happenings. However, being thankful for not-so-good happenings like a job loss, financial loss, strained relationship, illness, death, wayward children, and other "unimaginables" are much harder and not natural to us.
Therefore, we need the power of the supernatural, the gift of the Holy Spirit, to genuinely be thankful in all things as God desires for us (Ephesians 5:18-20).
In other words— We only get the ability and capacity to be thankful in and for all things from the Holy Spirit's indwelling power, not from our own strength.
Moreover, a heart of gratitude must be cultivated or grown over time.
How do we cultivate a heart of gratitude?
There are three primary steps:
1. Choose gratitude.
Gratitude is intentionally chosen over hopelessness and despair.
2. Prayer is vital.
We regularly come to God in prayer with our requests and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). We seek the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, give us God's peace beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:7), and the ability to have a heart of gratitude even in the toughest circumstances.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
3. Seek practical ways to demonstrate appreciation and thankfulness.
Harvest Rock Church lists six helpful ways to do so:
Keep a gratitude journal: Consistently write down the things in your life that you thank God for.
Give voice to your gratitude: Talk about it and tell others what you are thankful for.
Meditate on God’s goodness: Remember and reflect on all the things you are thankful for, and brag about how good God is!
Express gratitude tangibly: Look for practical ways you can show your thankfulness to your family, friends, coworkers, and anyone in your life!
Seek gratitude in the Bible: Receive encouragement from the lives of godly men and women who cultivated a lifestyle of thanksgiving.
Keep a clean heart and let go of offenses: To have a heart that is free from being offended, offer all your offenses to the Lord, and let Him set you free!
As the saying goes, "There's always something to be thankful for!" Knowing God desires we grow a heart of demonstrated genuine gratitude in ALL circumstances, how are you doing in this area?
Got tips that have helped grow your heart of gratitude?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Remember, it's all about progression, not perfection! God loves you! With Him, you got this! Until next post, may God give you His peace and blessings!
~Natasha
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Awesome, thanks for reading @Elyssa! :-)
This is good! Thank you for sharing, sis!!
Amen sis @Allison! With God, the impossible IS possible by His power in us (Matthew 19:26). Thanks for reading. :-)
I love that you included practical ways to demonstrate appreciation and thankfulness. I am going to incorporate this into my daily life. It isn’t natural to show gratitude in all things like you said so I will be seeing God on this. Thank you.