An Attitude of Gratitude

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” (Alphonse Karr)

Hello friends.  Do you consider yourself to be someone who has a grateful heart?  How do you demonstrate this gratitude toward your Heavenly Father and to others?  It is refreshing to encounter people who exhibit an attitude of gratitude.  I desire to be someone that demonstrates a spirit of thanksgiving.  With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are able to express an attitude of gratitude in all situations and circumstances we encounter on our journey towards our Heavenly home.  To be able to express gratitude in all situations and circumstances we must remember the truth of God’s Word – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose – Romans 8:28.

Friends, when you encounter difficult seasons you can thank God for His presence and praise Him for the good that will ultimately come from this difficulty.  Without help from the precious Holy Spirit, this will not be possible for us to do.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul was not teaching us to thank God for everything that happens, but in everything.  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.  Our thankful spirit should not fluctuate with the circumstances in our lives.  We must guard our hearts so that weeds of ingratitude are not allowed to take root. 

Choose to cultivate a thankful heart.  We must be intentional in choosing to be grateful.  Allow God’s Word to renew your mind, focus on God and the precious gifts he provides, and speak words that reflect God’s goodness and grace.  When you and I live our lives worshiping our Heavenly Father and giving thanks in all things, there is a glorious radiance which is evident in our lives that will please and bless our LORD and others.  

Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.  Our LORD imparted grace to us when we deserved His judgment and wrath.  How can we not respond to our Savior and LORD with a grateful heart?  We must never take for granted the salvation of our souls. 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss states in the book Choosing Gratitude – “The beauty of Christian gratitude is that one little act of thanksgiving on our part-when directed toward or inspired by its rightful recipient-can bound and rebound from one end of the kingdom to the other, not only blessing God, not only benefiting us, but even lodging itself in places and in people where God’s love might never have been received any other way.”  I pray today that you will choose to allow your life to overflow with thankfulness.  So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as LORD, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Only with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will we be able to live a life with a grateful heart. 

When we enter into God’s throne room with our prayers and petitions and offer up thanksgiving, our Heavenly Father provides us with peace.  Philippians 4:6-7 – 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.  Choose to be grateful to your Savior and LORD today and allow your heart to be drawn to Him.  Believe that He is good, faithful, and He can be trusted. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in prayer today thanking You for the blessings You have bestowed upon us.  Search our hearts Father and reveal to us areas that we need to allow You to change.  Father, change our hearts to be hearts filled with gratitude.  In Jesus Precious Name I Pray…..Amen.