DEVOTIONAL; Attitude of Gratitude
DEVOTIONAL: ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
The bible encourages us to cultivate a heart and spirit of gratitude even in the most difficult of times. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 There is so much despair and hopelessness in these very difficult times but if we can focus on having a heart of gratitude, it gives us the power to have hope even in the most difficult of times. Being grateful is a choice that we make daily and it can be hard to show gratitude when things around us are hard but if we can prevail with an attitude of gratitude that endures during difficulty, it can bring us to a point where our hearts focus on the good and the things we have to be grateful for and the Hope we have through Christ.
I truly know what it is like to have life falling apart around you, to live a life of uncertainty, to not know if we would make it financially, to have unbearable circumstances surrounding my life….but I also know that God gave me a heart of gratitude to just be grateful for every moment and every blessing and to have trust in Him through it all. As hard as it has been and as much as we have been through, there was always someone that was going through so much more and made our situation seem minimal in comparison. You may say I don’t have anything to be grateful for….Look around you, there is someone out there going through much worse that could only wish they were where you are today. It truly is a choice you make everyday to be grateful even for the smallest things. Sometimes I had to look past the heartache we were experiencing to find the gratitude but everytime…..it was there!
It can be hard to see the good and be grateful when we are living in dark times and the shadows of life are trying to surround us but that is when we NEED gratitude the most. Gratitude keeps us focused on hope and hope keeps us trusting in God. It is so easy to be grateful when all around us is going great….we are getting that big check every week, there was plenty of toilet paper at the grocery store, my job was secure and there was plenty of food in my pantry but when all of these things are not going as planned, that is sometimes when we start to moan, question God and our hearts become bitter and ungrateful.
But now, through these hard times is when we need an attitude of gratitude the most! Gratitude for even the smallest of things can make our days brighter and help us through hard times. You must make it a conscience effort to change your thought process and your heart to think on all the good even when you don’t feel there is a lot of good around you. You woke up this morning, right? That in itself is enough to be grateful for especially right now.
Today, lets focus on all the good that is coming from all that is happening in the world. I see people coming together to pray like I have never seen in my lifetime. I see people helping each other like never before. I see families spending more time together than they have in years. I see parents teaching their children and taking responsibility for their learning. For myself….I am so grateful for my small town living, my home out in the country, the ability to get out and walk and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, to have family that is healthy and the list just could go on and on. It is the little things that make me grateful and looking for better days ahead because I have HOPE in the waiting, I have gratitude in the waiting and I have faith in the waiting.
I am not saying its going to be easy to go through the storm but I am saying if you will try gratitude even during the storms of life….it will help you cope and survive when you are not sure you can because there is HOPE in GRATITUDE.
Prayer of Gratitude:
Dear heavenly Father I come to you today to show gratitude for my life and the hope you are giving me during this difficult time. It is not easy right now but I will praise you and thank you for everything you are doing even during this storm. Lord, give me a heart of gratitude so I can see the good even when there is so much sadness in the world today. Give my heart peace so that I know you are with me always and that my attitude of gratitude will bring hope to my soul even on the hardest of days. Lord I pray for all who are suffering now and I ask you to give them peace for the days to come and even when life is hard, let them feel you and have peace and hope for tomorrow.
Bible verses of Gratitude:
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Hebrews 13:15
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
Psalms 9:1-2
“I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.”
Psalms 28:7
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.”
2 thoughts on “DEVOTIONAL; Attitude of Gratitude”
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Thank you for this tonight. It has changed my thinking about what is going on in the world today. This is exactly what I needed to hear.
Prayers for Addi and your family.
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