The Art of Gratitude
The following post is an excerpt from Pastor Joie’s Bible Study Masterpiece. To read more, go to joiemiller.co to purchase the book.
As much as complaining is anti-faith, gratitude is a full expression of faith!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (NIV)
Be grateful each day to keep envy at bay. Gratitude is a lifestyle; it's a result of your focus. Just like focusing on the wrong things reaps a harvest of jealousy, envy, and complaining-- gratitude brings about a good harvest!
There are so many benefits to living a life of gratitude! It is good for you mentally as it keeps you focused on the good instead of the bad and, therefore, produces a more positive faith-filled mentality. It is good for your self-esteem-- celebrating what you are thankful for helps you to be happy with yourself! Gratitude even eliminates stress. When you are thankful, you realize the things you thought were so bad aren’t. Socially, gratitude helps you celebrate others and makes others want to be around you more!
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)
Thanksgiving is a great expression of faith. When you take time to reflect on all the good things God has done in your life, it builds your faith-- it's like reflecting on God’s track record. The Israelites in the Old Testament would make stones of remembrance to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness. In 1 Samuel 7, “Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying “thus far the Lord has helped us.” It was a great reminder to the Israelites in times of adversity that God is faithful!
David also expresses gratitude in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”
Recounting all God has done fills your heart with faith and confidence, even in times of adversity.
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4 (NIV)
Just like complaining repels God’s presence, gratitude attracts it. Reflecting on all the blessings God has done and is doing attracts the presence of God! There is no easier way to fill an atmosphere with His presence than giving thanks and praise. The Bible says God lives or inhabits in the praises of His people.
Give God thanks for what He has done and what He is going to do! Think about it, when you thank someone, it is usually after you have received something from them. If someone gives you a gift or a compliment, you respond by thanking them. When a waiter serves your table, you respond by thanking them with a tip. If you tipped the waiter before you were served, you would have faith that he would do what you expected.
When you respond to God with thanksgiving before you actually receive what you ask in prayer, it's a great declaration of faith! You are proclaiming that it is a done deal and that you are so certain God will do it that you can thank him ahead of time! In essence, you received the answer at that moment by faith, and now it just has to manifest!