Changing our lives by living in Gratitude
God wants us to live in thankfulness. When we fail to recognize and respect God as God it is the basic sin of ingratitude.
The world is a very negative, hostile place full of unhappy and discontent people. As God’s people, we are called to live in the attitude of gratitude. We can feel gratitude when we recognize God in our lives.
Gratitude is not some sweet politeness or a fleeting emotion but a spiritual discipline. By choice, we acknowledge and value God and His work in our lives. We see the beauty; we count the blessings, and we appreciate the goodness of God.
In Romans, Paul says that the fundamental sin is the lack of gratitude. People went from knowing God to not glorifying him. They were no longer grateful for all God was doing in their lives.
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:21.
What a reminder of the seriousness of this sin. We diminish the glory of God in our lives, and deprive ourselves of joy because we are not grateful. The actual test of our spirituality might be our level of gratitude.
It comes down to how we tell our stories to ourselves and others. We interpret our experiences to see God’s hand and be grateful or to foster bitterness. We focus on hardships and setbacks and consider ourselves victims that deserve pity, or we choose to see God and His grace in our lives.
Joseph seemed never to forget God. I have forgotten God and let the gratitude drain out, and bitterness fills its place. I have had to repent and go back to seeing God and thanking Him. What about you?
Thankfulness will fill every part of our lives with joy and grace. Our attitude towards others will be one of compassion and generosity. We will see the beauty even in the darkest times, the greatest challenges. We will glorify God.
Let’s cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Let’s tell our story in a way that shows the goodness and faithfulness of God.
Gratitude is faith in action. Gratitude is seeing God in the most difficult of times. Isn’t that true faith?
Check out a new book by Bridgette Young
Lost in the Gray talks about the many struggles women go through, often times alone, when losing an infant or dealing with infertility/fertility loss. Bridgette Young shares her personal story of infant losses and fertility loss resulting from ectopic pregnancies. She discusses how she was able to trust the Lord again, the importance of grieving, and how to help others in these situations. Additionally, this book contains contributions from professionals who help people through grief everyday. In this book you will also find many stories and contributions from other women who have dealt with infant loss and infertility. It is a resource to offer women hope in the midst of deep grief. It shows how Christ truly is the answer to find healing and be able to use such a devastating loss for His glory. #infantloss #ectopicpregnancysurvivor #faith