This post is all about the power of gratitude and how God works in our thankfulness.
God has given us many tools to overcome challenges, experience the miraculous, and live a victorious life as believers. One of these tools is gratitude. Gratitude is a simple tool that unlocks the gates of heaven and makes God pour down His blessings on us. As children of God, we must learn how to form an attitude of gratitude to quiet storms and level mountains in our lives. Are you seeking ways to activate the habit of gratitude in your life and unlock divine blessings? Keep reading to discover the power of gratitude.
Gratitude Works Wonders
Jesus’ life revealed one truth: gratitude works wonders! Sometimes, maintaining a heart of gratitude is all God needs in order
to perform miracles, move mountains, give transcendent peace, and reverse the irreversible.
We see Jesus model this attitude of gratitude many times throughout His ministry on the earth. Including before He multiplied the bread and fish for the multitude of people (See Matthew 6:11), at the last supper, and even preceding the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead.
“Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me” (John 11:41-42).
After this short prayer of gratitude, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And Lazarus, who was dead for four days, jumped up and lived for all to see.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
In other words, anxiety, complaining, and fear will only compound your troubles and prolong blessings because you’re operating from a place of fear. However, gratitude fills your heart with God’s peace that surpasses all understanding.
When we choose to spend our time being grateful for the blessings God has previously poured out on our lives rather than looking at what we’re lacking… We can remain steadfast in the truth that God is good no matter what.
Not only that, but when we’re stressed, worried, and filled with anxiety about the future, it prevents us from living out the actionable faith that God requires.
It’s clear from Jesus’ example that maintaining a heart posture of gratitude is an intricate part of how miracles come to fruition. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith, it is impossible to please him.”
If you look around you, you will see many miracles for which you should be grateful. The miracle of sleeping and waking, the miracle of sunlight, rain, and fresh air. God is actively doing wonders in our lives.
All the days of our lives, let our prayer be, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2).
Gratitude Within the Storm
Gratitude is not the absence of challenges but the act of focusing on our current blessings while not giving power to the challenges that attempt to thwart and destabilize our faith. Gratitude not only cushions the pain of challenges but also helps us avoid them altogether.
Adam and Eve had abundance in the Garden of Eden. They had everything they could possibly want – Closeness with God, protection, peace, food, etc. Yet it was their decision to give into Satan’s perception of lack that beguiled them to sin, and thus sin and all of its consequences entered the world.
Therefore, gratitude helps us focus on God’s blessings and keeps us from disobeying God’s word and inflicting pain on ourselves.
But what about when we are doing everything we can to follow God and the turbulent storms of life still come?
James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing
of your faith produces patience.” This scripture can open our eyes to a profound truth:
If we embrace our trials and challenges with joy and gratitude, we can receive them with a perspective of knowing that God is working even through our difficulties. And we can persevere in our challenges knowing that suffering well will produce fruit that will bring us closer to the heart of God.
I think it’s important to always bear in mind that God’s ways are not our own, yet we can always have confidence in who He is.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28.
We can learn from the life of Joseph as he embraced the agony of betrayal, the chains of slavery, and the rags of the prison with gratitude and hope in God. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he ministered to his fellow prisoners by interpreting their dreams. And God made him ascend to the position of Prime Minister in Egypt, a foreign land.
After all, it’s the challenges that we face that grows our character the most, teaches us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, and gives us testimonies to be able to reach others.
Therefore, rejoice in your suffering, knowing that your suffering produces perseverance, character, and
hope through God’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in you (Romans 5:3-5).
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