Being able to ‘see God in every circumstance’ has a lot to do with developing a grateful heart. Often when I am in a situation that is difficult to understand, or one of my children or grandchildren is experiencing something that is hard; I begin my prayer with thanksgiving rather than a request. I begin by rehearsing what I know about God and His character—"thank You that You have brought this trial into my life to teach me more of who You are…thank you that You have designed this experience my loved one is going through to draw her close to You…thank You that You have a purpose and plan for everything that you allow to touch our lives—the difficulties as well as the joys…thank You that You are well able to handle any problem because You have a purpose and plan for each one…etc. This helps to set my mind and thoughts on Him who promised that ‘He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him’ 2 Pet. 1:3. O, Lord, I pray that You will train my heart to respond to all that happens in my life with a grateful spirit! Amen!!!"
I am currently reading Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ book, Choosing Gratitude—Your Journey to Joy. I want to share a few of the thoughts I’m gleaning, hoping to whet your appetite to read the book!
Gratitude is a choice! If our lives begin to feel hard, hopeless or overwhelming it may be that we need to see if we are harboring an ungrateful attitude. If we see signs of worry, complaining, resentment, anger or bitterness, negativity, doubt, discouragement or anxiety; we must run to the life preserver of gratitude! Nancy says, ‘Over time, choosing gratitude means choosing joy. But that choice doesn’t come without effort and intentionality. It’s a choice that requires constantly renewing my mind with the truth of God’s Word, setting my heart to savor God and His gifts, and disciplining my tongue to speak words that reflect His goodness and grace—until a grateful spirit becomes my reflexive response to all of life.’
Our emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being as well as the health and stability of our relationships are greatly determined by having a grateful heart. In an interview, a theologian Dr. Wayne Gruden responded to the question of vulnerability to discouragement by saying, “I don’t often become discouraged. I continue to see evidence of God’s work in my life and in the lives of those around me, and I am simply overwhelmed with thankfulness to Him.” We can look for evidences of God’s hand at work even in the midst of turmoil and be ‘simply overwhelmed with thankfulness to Him.’
Gratitude is vital and it is transformational to our lives! It is one of the chief ways that God infuses joy and resilience into the daily struggles of life.
Come to think of it, nothing makes a person more unattractive than the absence of a grateful spirit. And the consequences of an ungrateful heart can be as contagious as a deadly disease. Often we blame or build resentment against others for the grief we are experiencing. We blame God and ask, ‘why me?’ We become self-focused. Nancy says, “But true, Christ-centered, grace motivated gratitude fits everywhere, even in life’s most desperate moments and difficult situations. Even when there are no ‘answers’, it gives hope. It transforms overwhelmed strugglers into triumphant conquerors.”
From Romans 1, we see that from ingratitude a host of other sins grow. Verse 21 says, ‘they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him…’ Ingratitude is our first step away from God into hideous sin.
I’ll conclude with eight biblical reasons for choosing to have a grateful heart:
• It is a matter of obedience to God—Psa. 50:14, ‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and perform your vows to the Most High.’
• It draws us close to Him—Psa. 22:3 kjv, ‘God inhabits the praises of His people’.
• It is a sure path to peace—Phil. 4:6, 7, ‘Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your minds in Christ Jesus.’
• It tells you where your heart is—Psa. 140:13, ‘Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name.’
• It is the will of God—1 Thess. 5:18 ‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’
• It is an evidence of being filled with the spirit—Eph. 5:18-20, Be filled with the Spirit. ‘Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.’
• It reflects the heart of Jesus—Luke 10:21, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…’ John 11:41 ‘I thank You that You have heard Me…’ (among many examples).
• It gets us ready for heaven—Rev. 4:8, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’
John 15:10,11 reveals Jesus heart: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed My father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” And we are told in 1 Tim 6:17 that God ‘richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.’
He wants us to be joy filled and He will give it abundantly as we develop grateful hearts to Him!
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