An Attitude of Ingratitude

“Thankless children we all are, more or less, comprehending but dimly the truth of God’s fathomless love for us.”

Elisabeth Elliot 

Hello dear friends.  I hope you are doing well.  Today I want us to think about an attitude of ingratitude.  None of us would freely admit to having a spirit of ingratitude, but if we are honest we will all confess that there have been times when we have behaved with an ungrateful spirit.  We have demonstrated an attitude of ingratitude.  We tend to find it easy to notice when others are being ungrateful, but we have become desensitized to when we are being ungrateful.  I encourage you to examine your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal whether you have an attitude of ingratitude or whether you have an attitude of gratitude. 

It is very important that we guard our hearts so that an ungrateful, critical spirit does not take root.  We must be intentional in speaking words of appreciation to others and in thanking God for the blessings He has bestowed upon us.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it – Proverbs 5:23.  Jesus reveals to us in Luke 6:45 that our speech and actions demonstrate our true beliefs.  If we have an ungrateful attitude it will be demonstrated in our speech and our behavior.  Luke 6:45 – A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  Ask yourself, is my heart filled with gratitude or ingratitude?  If the Holy Spirit reveals to you that you have an ungrateful spirit, ask your Heavenly Father to create in you a pure heart, a grateful heart.  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit – Psalm 51:10.  Our Savior and LORD can do amazing things in our hearts and lives if we surrender to Him.  He is the potter and we are the clay.  Isaiah 64:8 – Yet you, LORD, are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of you hand.  Allow God to mold you into someone that reflects who He is. 

I believe we would all agree that we live in an age of entitlement.  We come to believe we are owed things, even blessings.  Pray and ask the LORD to help you recognize your blessings and to help you to be grateful to Him for the blessing He has chosen to bless you with.  We tend to focus most often on material blessings but I encourage you to reflect on the spiritual blessings you have been given by your Heavenly Father.  I pray we never become blind to God’s grace and compassion.  Lamentations 3:22-23 – Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Our hearts should whelm up with gratitude because our God is faithful. 

An attitude of ingratitude damages relationships.  It steals our humility, contentment, and joy.  We must look at ingratitude just as it is – a sin.  In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul lists ungrateful along with many other sins.  But marks this:  There will be terrible times in the last day.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with such people – 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Friends, I encourage you to reflect on your blessings.  Reflect on God’s faithfulness to you.  Thank Him and ask Him to create in you a grateful heart. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for saving my soul.  LORD, I thank You for the many blessings You have blessed me with.  I recognize Your mercy and grace is unending.  I pray that You will help us to recognize when we are demonstrating an ungrateful spirit.  Change our hearts to reflect Your heart.  Help us to always respond to You and others with an attitude of gratitude.  In Jesus Precious Name I Pray…..Amen.