COURAGEOUS GRATITUDE

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished.”

1 CHRONICLES 28:20 NLT

The practice of gratitude has many benefits to our overall well-being. Studies now show that our relationships, our mental and physical health, and our life satisfaction are all boosted as we incorporate this practice into our daily lives. Gratitude helps us to be grounded in the present moment, in what is true here and now. Sure, it won’t erase the challenges, but it can help us to be resilient in them as we see that the challenges are not the only part of our lives.

It takes courage to stand rooted in the present and to look for the goodness that is with us now. The smile of a stranger, the hug of a loved one, a warm home, and food on the table—the simplest things can be a perfect place to start. Gratitude may feel like work at first, but the more you practice it, the more you will build that muscle and create new neural pathways that make it feel easier over time!

Start a journal. Call it your Gratitude Journal and list in it a few things you are grateful for every day.

LIFE-GIVING FRIENDS

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

EPHESIANS 1:16 NIV

When we take time to be grateful for the people in our lives, evidence shows that our social bonds grow stronger. When we can pinpoint the qualities which we are thankful for in the people around us, we are more compelled to treat them as gifts. It can be easy to get caught up in frustrations, but what if we spent just as much energy or even more on what we are grateful for?

Think about the people in your life you are grateful for and why. Don’t just shrug off this exercise if nothing comes to mind at first. Think of those closest to you. What are the attributes in them that you appreciate? As you begin to recognize what those qualities are, take note of them. The next time you see them, make a point of sharing those thoughts with them. We can’t take for granted that our loved ones know what we appreciate about them. Let’s be intentional and make sure they know!

Tell at least two people in your life what you are grateful for about them today no matter how insignificant it might seem to you. It just may be the encouragement they need.

IN THE WAITING

The LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

ISAIAH 30:18 NKJV

How many of us find it easy to dream about what we will be grateful for in the future? Any dream, hope, or longing is easy to conjure up. Yet, if we spend too much time on the not yet we may miss the enjoyment of the now. We are blessed in the waiting—read the last part of today’s verse once more. There are reasons to be thankful today no matter where you are or what you are facing.

Waiting doesn’t have to be boring or painful. We truly can learn to enjoy the slower pace in the in-between periods. We don’t have to ignore the longing we feel in the waiting. However, when we shift our perspective to what is true, what is good, and what is precious in the present, we expand our awareness of the presence of God with us. God is so gracious, and his grace is abundant toward us today.

Pay attention to the little things that make you feel connected to the present today.

SPEAKING TRUTH

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard.”

JOHN 16:13 NLT

Truth need not be harsh nor sweet. It is simply that which is true and remains true whether we acknowledge it or not. We don’t have to ignore reality, our experiences, or the experiences of others in order to uphold it. It stands regardless.

When we learn to recognize the truth for what it is, gratitude can play a part in our response. Think of the promises of the Lord, in particular his promise that he will never leave us nor forsake us. He will come again and make all wrong things right. He is full of mercy toward us. That is the truth we stand upon. Even with truths that seem overwhelming or unpleasant, our gratitude can be shown in how we choose to respond. We are not powerless, for our agency is always available. Let’s partner with the Lord and his truth and follow his lead of love as we live our lives.

Meditate on the promises of God and pray them back to him with a thankful heart.

SHARE YOUR GRATITUDE

“Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him.

LUKE 8:39 CSB

There is power in our testimonies of God’s faithfulness. There is encouragement for others in our own breakthroughs. Our gratitude can inspire others to look for reasons to be grateful in their own lives. Think of a time when you were encouraged by the story of what God did for someone. God meets us each where we are, and he moves with mercy in each of our lives though the details will look different for each person.

Sharing our hearts with one another connects us. When we grieve with each other or when we celebrate with one another, we are showing the support found in a connective community. We were made to lean on each other. None of us is perfect, though we are all worthy of authentic relationships. Consider what you can share with a friend today. Simply tell them what God has done for you!

Share good news—and it doesn’t have to be new—with someone today.

HEART OF PRAISE

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

PSALM 103:1-2 ESV

As we focus on the goodness of the Lord and his faithful nature and kindness toward us, our hearts will expand in response. As our hearts expand in awe, they will overflow with thankfulness and praise.

When we begin our days with hearts attuned to the wonder of God, his creation, and the gift of life, we can’t help but thank him. We can intentionally build this practice of focused praise in our lives. As humans, we are prone to focusing on negative things; the harsher realities of life are everywhere. Still, there is evidence that as we engage with the goodness in our own lives, as we purposefully looking for gifts in the simplest of places, we can train our brains to look for these more and more. What an invitation this is to turn our hearts in praise to our Maker today.

Spend time in prayer thanking God for specific things you are thankful for.

BOOST OF CONFIDENCE

What should we say then? Since God is on our side, who can be against us?

ROMANS 8:31 NCV

Studies show that as we ground ourselves in the present moment and focus on what is good, there are multiple benefits to our mental and emotional health. One of those benefits is self-confidence. If we want to feel better about ourselves, we can start by seeing the beauty of life and the world around us, as well as our place in it.

You were thoughtfully created in the image of your maker, and he doesn’t make mistakes. He knit you together with purpose and delight. If he delights in you, why shouldn’t you? You are wonderfully made, and God loves you just as you are; that will always be true. You cannot convince him out of his love for you, so why not try seeing yourself from his perspective? Stand in confidence that you are loved, you are accepted, and you belong in his kingdom.

Make a list of everything you like about yourself and when you’re feeling down, read it.

THINGS THAT MATTER

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

ROMANS 14:17 NASB

We can get so easily distracted by silly things that don’t really matter in the long run. Some call that “getting lost in the weeds.” When we do this, we lose sight of the bigger picture, and maybe even forget the things that we value the most.

There are opportunities in every area of our lives to refocus and refine our visions. As we intentionally define the values we want to live by, we can evaluate how to refocus our energy spent in terms of time, attention, etc. in order to support these values. At the same time, we can choose to give less time to things that pull us away from them. God is full of wisdom, and he will offer insight when we ask him. Let’s not forget to pull him into the process and ask his Spirit to reveal how we can put this into practice. Don’t forget that the fruit of the Spirit is how we measure success in the...