A Grateful Heart

"Showing gratitude is the sort of thing you can make yourself do whether you feel like it or not. There are always things you can thank God for if you look around. In other words, even if you don't feel like it, do it anyway." (Kendall)

I read somewhere "Gratitude is a 'medicine' that promotes your spiritual health." What an awe-inspiring thought! When I wake up in the morning with an attitude of gratitude, determined to make the very best of any situation God has planned for me, I feel more spiritually healthy and mature. I feel that God is pleased when we rejoice in Him and thank Him for all circumstances. Attitudes decide our lifestyle, and my at the kind of day I am going to have, as well as the impact I will have on those around me. As I focus on and share positive thoughts and words, it becomes attractive and even addictive to people and their circumstances.

"Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." (I Thessalonians 5:16-18~Message)

It's a decision first thing in my morning I must make to eliminate and ignore any negative thoughts or negative people that might get in my way, and to instead get in the habit of appreciating with thanksgiving, every wonderful thing God has given me in life. When I focus on all that is good in my life, it's actually pretty tough to be negative; an attitude of being thankful makes me a more positive person!

Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overgrow with thanksgiving for all He has done. (Colossians 2:7)

Obviously, there certainly are times when I need to face negative or undesirable issues and simply deal with them. There are days when my mood is down or I feel a particular situation is out of control. However, if I confront my challenges with a positive attitude it makes a significant difference on the outcome of the situation. As long as I am honest with God and talk things over with Him, my prayers end in praise, and I have a reason to rejoice and deal with the problem. Showing gratitude to God my Father is to trust and rely on His help, wisdom, and guidance to lead me to a right decision or place. Sometimes when things seem so bad, it's really tough to find something to be grateful for. I know it's not always easy, but it is definitely never impossible. It doesn't matter what happens or how difficult things may be, with God on my side, I can be thankful for all circumstances!

"They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord; they were to do the same in the evening." (I Chronicles 23:30)