Gratitude

Isn't mind-blowing how our brains juggle emotions? There's a fascinating scientific study that your brain can't be stuck in both anxiety and gratitude at the same time. Seriously, how amazing is that!? God handcrafted this intricate, complex masterpiece between our ears and we need to take care of it. Let's take a journey into some biblical teachings and a few tips that can enrich our lives and our relationship with God through gratitude.

Thanksgiving in Prayer: In every situation, present our requests to God with a side of thanksgiving. I have been working on making this a daily priority. I know I have taken my requests to God before and allowed my prayers to be "Please God, just give this to me..." and when you aren't receiving those things and feel as if your prayers are not being answered it's easy to slip and not give thanks. In Philippians 4, Paul goes on and says to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. I believe Paul understood that when thinking of these things and being grateful for them all other worries fall. When we start pointing out such things and spending time giving thanks to God in our prayers we start to have a more positive mindset, our hearts and minds become guarded as we rest in the peace of God, and it strengthens our relationship with Him.

Gratitude in All Circumstances: When life throws those fast curveballs, and suddenly you're faced with situations that you never wanted to be in, it can make gratitude sound like a tall order. I get it; it's not all sunshine and rainbows over here. Sometimes it feels like I am expected to dish out gratitude when I am knee-deep in challenges. But here's the thing I have learned- it is not about pretending everything's peachy and perfect. It's about finding those little sparks of goodness that God has placed all around you, even in the messiest moments. It's about being real, organic, acknowledging the struggle, and still saying, "Hey, God, thank you. Thank you for the glimmer of peace and the hope you've surround me with in this chaotic moment." Sometimes being thankful in the storm is the very thing that will help you weather it. This will help you trust in God's unfailing plan, laying down the bricks for some serious spiritual growth. You don't have to build a whole wall in a day, just take it one brick at a time.

Acknowledging God's Provision: This verse spells it out perfectly- every good and perfect gift comes from above. Whether it's a simple joy or a major blessing, it's all part of this heavenly care package. Acknowledging God's provision is recognizing God as the ultimate provider as our own means seem inadequate. It truly transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. Imagine the same commute to work every morning, often seen as a dull adventure. It's Monday morning, you forgot your coffee, your child refused to put on their shoes which almost turned into a full blown war and now you're running late. Just writing about it has my brain spinning a little... but if we take a deep breath and start to shift our mindset into gratitude mode we can see so much more. You may have forgot your coffee, but I bet God has gifted you with a workplace that offers free coffee. Your child may have fought you on those shoes, but God has blessed you with a healthy child who has shoes to fight over. Your drive becomes opportunities, each spotlight becomes a pause for reflection, the sunrise becomes a gorgeous piece of art work, painted every morning by the Creator. With a shift in perspective, your Monday morning craziness is now a moment of extraordinary grace and time to be grateful.

Practical Tips to Sustain a Grateful Heart:

Keep a Gratitude Journal: This can be as simple as making a list of blessing and positive things. I love this idea because when you are finding it difficult to be grateful amidst adversity, you can reflect on your journal entries or lists you've made. You can begin and/or end each day by reflecting on all the good and perfect gifts from God.

Express Appreciation to Others: Let's face it, everybody loves a strong verbal high-five and gratitude love notes. Not only will it make someone's day but will also warm your heart just seeing the smile on their face. People need to be reminded that they are appreciated and we need to remind them.

Be Present in the Moment: It's not just mindfulness; it's soaking in the goodness and appreciating the small joys that God surrounds us with.

Avoid the Comparison Game: Comparison is the thief of joy, robbing us of the ability to appreciate our unique God given journey. It is a sole provider of discontentment and unrealistic standards set by others. Find joy in your relationship with God and embrace His plan for your life.

Serve Others: The act of giving selflessly provides a perspective shift. You are positively impacting someone else's life that will foster a cycle of appreciation and reinforce reasons to be grateful in our own journey.

Find Positivity in Adversity: Turning challenging moments into opportunities for growth will be transformative. This mindset shift ignites enduring gratitude, even in tough times, there are lessons and blessings to be found.

The ongoing journey of maintaining a grateful heart is about living out intentional choices rather than checking items off a to-do list. It is a heart felt acknowledgement to God, thanking Him, recognizing His abundant provisions, and discovering the joy in simple moments.