{"id":234,"date":"2017-11-20T13:23:21","date_gmt":"2017-11-20T19:23:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/?p=234"},"modified":"2017-11-21T08:22:00","modified_gmt":"2017-11-21T14:22:00","slug":"delight-in-the-lord-the-power-of-a-grateful-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/delight-in-the-lord-the-power-of-a-grateful-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Delight in the Lord: The Power of a Grateful Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have so much to be grateful for! Every day is bursting with immeasurable blessing. But the truth is that sometimes we don\u2019t feel real grateful. The demands of life, struggles, and worries often push us towards defeat rather than a heart of thanks<\/span>. Or we forget, in the midst of busyness and stresses, just to pause and give thanks. <\/span><\/p>\n

If we\u2019re honest, sometimes it\u2019s a sacrifice to offer praise and thanks. We may not feel like it. We\u2019re struggling. We’re tired. Or maybe, we feel like God has let us down. He\u2019s distant, far away, or doesn’t really care about what’s troubling us. In moments like this thankfulness, let alone delight, seems like a faded memory from the past. <\/span>[1]<\/span><\/p>\n

With that reality in mind, there is something incredibly freeing and powerful about gratitude. Below are four ways that gratitude can lead us towards deeper delight in the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

Four reasons why a grateful heart is so powerful<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. It takes our eyes off of ourselves<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It\u2019s hard to be self-centered when you are focusing on the things you are grateful for! Gratitude in its very definition is the \u201c<\/span>state of being thankful<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span>[2] <\/span>And the opposite of thankful is unappreciative, critical or greedy. A thankful heart by nature points us away from ourselves and towards the giver, and as believers we know that the giver of all good things is the Lord himself. (James 1:17) That\u2019s a powerful truth we all need!<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. It leaves no room for complaining<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Similar to the point above, a grateful heart drowns out complaining. Paul states in Philippians 2:14 that we are to do all things without grumbling or complaining. The truth is, it is impossible to be truly thankful and filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. It reminds us of who is in control<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        We serve a mighty God. What a grateful heart does is keep us humble. It reminds us that God is in control and that we are completely dependent on God. Gratitude points us towards our need and towards the one who lovingly holds control. <\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. It draws us near to God<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          The Scripture says that God inhabits the praises of His people (see Psalm 22:3 KJV). God lives in the place of praise!<\/span><\/p>\n

          We see a recurring theme in the psalms: \u201cEnter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!\u201d (Psalm 100:4). \u201cLet us come into His presence with thanksgiving\u201d (95:2). The theme seems to be that thanks-giving ushers us into the very presence of God! A grateful heart is a step closer to the nearness of the Lord. <\/span><\/p>\n

          How gratitude leads to delight<\/h4>\n

          Cicero wisely observed, \u201c<\/span>Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.<\/span><\/i>\u201d When we are thankful, we become content and full of peace. That peace in turn leads us to the joy, love and grace that only God provides. It\u2019s a powerful trickle down effect. <\/span><\/p>\n

          When I think about the way gratitude can increase our capacity to love, I think of Dr. Seuss\u2019 <\/span>How the Grinch Stole Christmas! <\/span><\/i>A great line in the story occurs right after the Grinch has realized the true meaning of Christmas: \u201cAnd some say the Grinch\u2019s heart grew three sizes that day.\u201d Gratitude expands our hearts the same way. We become fully aware of the details of the life we love, the simple things that delight us, and, perhaps most of all, the people God has placed in our lives. Simply stated, gratitude expands our capacity to enjoy life and delight in the love and promises of the Lord. <\/span>[3]<\/span><\/p>\n

          A gratitude journey<\/b><\/p>\n

          When we live with gratitude it increases our love. Not just for those around us but to the one who created us and delights in us. The truth for us today is this: when we express gratitude, it increases our capacity to experience delight in our savior Jesus! <\/span><\/p>\n

          Here are three simple ways to further your journey towards deeper gratitude<\/span><\/p>\n

          Beginner<\/span>: Set a timer on your phone as a reminder to pause and express gratitude. Praise God for whatever comes to mind in that moment<\/span><\/p>\n

          Intermediate<\/span>: Start a gratefulness journal. Describe your thoughts on thankfulness. Make lists, identify the forgotten blessings and give God glory for all He has provided.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Advanced<\/span>: Make a list of people in your life for whom you are most grateful. Think of the ones you most often overlook within your own household and make a point to express your gratitude for them. Write them, call them, sit with them and share your thankfulness!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

          \n

          Growth Point:<\/span><\/h4>\n

          Gratitude expands our capacity to enjoy life and delight in the love and promises of the Lord<\/span><\/p>\n

          Scripture Point:<\/span><\/h4>\n

          Read Colossians 3:17. Reflect on what it means for your daily routine.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Action Point<\/span><\/h4>\n

          Pray and select an action from the list above. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

          <\/div><\/div><\/div>
          [1]<\/span> https:\/\/www.crosswalk.com\/blogs\/debbie-mcdaniel\/the-power-of-a-grateful-heart-21-verses-of-thanksgiving.html<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n
          [2]<\/span> https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/gratitude<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n
          [3]<\/span> https:\/\/www.kerryshook.org\/the-power-of-gratitude\/<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n
          Photo by\u00a0Zac Durant<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/h6>\n<\/div>
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