A Lifestyle of Gratitude

During the month of November, people everywhere seem to jump on the “bandwagon” of gratitude.  It has typically been labeled the month of thankfulness, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.  However, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are commanded to live with thankful hearts each day.  Thankfulness is not just a once a day, thank you for the food, shelter and clothing, but an every moment, intentional mindset and lifestyle that continually dwells on the good gifts the Lord blesses us with each day.  

Praise and thanksgiving to God is shown all throughout Scripture. Psalm 118:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”  If you are a believer, the most amazing gift given to us that should drive us to thankfulness to our Lord each day is the gift of salvation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 2:4-5-But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved. The Lord chose us, while we were in sin, to be reconciled to himself through the blood of his Son Jesus Christ.  That alone should give us reason to praise every day!  We were once lost, but now we are found!  Every day is a new opportunity to dwell on the wonder of the cross and to be ever grateful that we were pulled from “the miry clay” and given the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

In order to cultivate a heart of gratitude we must first, dwell on the promises found in God’s word and let the Word penetrate our hearts.  Part of dwelling on God’s Word includes meditating on the Gospel. C.J. Mahaney, in his book, The Cross Centered Life, says, “If there’s anything in life we should be passionate about, it’s the Gospel.  And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others; I mean passionate in thinking about the gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life.”

Secondly, we can focus on God’s gifts to each of us and God’s gifts from others. James 1:17 says- Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

In her book, Choosing Gratitude, Nancy Leigh DeMoss offers ways to practically infuse gratitude into our daily lives:

1.        Each day, reflect on 5 things/blessings in which you are grateful. 

2.       Sing or listen to hymns or songs of thanksgiving.

3.       Write notes to people you are thankful for, and be specific about   what you are thankful for in their lives.

4.       Be vocal to others about the things you are thankful for.

5.       Focus on the blessings instead of complaining or being negative.

6.       Meditate on verses that express praise to the Lord.

If we continually do these things, our mindset will begin to change and we will begin to notice the difference in our hearts and attitudes.

Cultivating a heart of gratitude has several results. First, we have closer fellowship with the Lord.  Nancy Leigh DeMoss says, “Gratitude places us in close proximity to Christ, where we experience the fullness of his redeeming power and enjoy the blessing of His presence.” Our walk with the Lord becomes sweeter and sweeter as learn to bask in his blessings and thank him for his unmerited grace and goodness to us.

Second, we become the fragrant aroma of Christ to everyone we meet.  Others will see the Gospel displayed in our lives when we exude a grateful spirit.  It gives us opportunities to share what Christ has done for us. 

Third, we experience joy.  A thankful person exudes a joyful spirit.  They understand the goodness of our God and the grace he has poured out on their lives.  Praise is always on the lips of a grateful person and they express praise to those around them.  Our joy in the Lord is expanded and multiplied when we daily dwell on his goodness and praise him for what he has done in our lives, what he has saved us from, and how he continually leads, guides, and directs our steps, offering his love freely and pouring out his grace constantly.
 
Fourth, we grow in contentment.  Jodi Ware says, “Our contentment comes from a heart captured by God’s grace.  Contentment is being satisfied in God, His character, His works, and His ways.”  If we strive to praise the Giver of all good things and realize that He is the one who provides, gives, and takes away, we will be a fountain of thankfulness and will be a person of contentment. 

Fifth, we develop an attitude of humility. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  In this passage, Paul exhorts us to consider the needs of others ahead of our own.  When we live in gratitude, we are focused on others.  We forget about ourselves and we look to how we can bless others and encourage those around us with the love of Christ.  Henry Ward Beecher says, “A humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow.” When we live in humility, remembering where we were before Christ rescued us, and reflecting on where we are now because of his grace and the cross of Jesus Christ, we exhibit a heart that pours out gratitude. 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss says, “...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." Make a decision today to choose joy, to make it part of every moment of every day, not just a one month or one day out of the year tradition.  Remember the command the Lord gives us to be thankful.  Be the kind of person that continually offers praise,that shows gratitude to the Lord, the one who saves and gives us hope for each day. 

Happy Thanksgiving!