The Necessity of Practicing Gratitude

 

Gratitude.

How needed it is.  And how little we practice it.

Here is an assignment for each one of us:

• Write down everything "right" about your life currently; this could include anything you are not anxious about or overly concerned with.
• Next, write down, memorize, and daily keep in mind the truth of Romans 8: 28 and the faithfulness, wisdom, and goodness of God.
• List all the external blessings and provisions God has bestowed in your life.
• Name everything from having food and shelter, to your eyesight, hearing, and limbs.  Include luxuries like having a cell phone, computer, books to read, the internet to use, air conditioning, a heater, clothes for the summer and winter, shoes, any jewelry, electricity, running water, soap, music, a car, pens and pencils and markers and crayons to draw or write, the ability to go to the store for what we need, access to the Post Office to mail letters or packages, and every other little (or great) luxury you can think of.
• Make sure to write down prayers God has answered (and the times He has, in His wisdom and protection over you, said no), the desires of your heart He has granted, and every time He made a way out of a bad situation, circumstance, relationship, or friendship.
• List God's attributes as described in the Bible.  Praise and offer Him thanks and a joyful heart for the truth of His word, His precious Son and salvation, and God's character.
• Instead of complaining about everything that isn't right about life, begin writing down everything that is "right".

This is a sure way to gain contentment.  Gratitude changes our perspective.

Let us seek to build hearts of thanksgiving and continually live in an attitude of praise to God.

Why not?

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  It will take work to be diligent, but why not transfer all the energy, effort, and time we put into complaining to instead learning how to be thankful and daily praise God?