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How gratitude can transform your life and bring you closer to God
Prof. Aécio D’Silva, Ph.D.
AquaUniversity
Commemorating and Thanking – Gratitude is more than just a feeling or an attitude. It is a powerful spiritual practice that can change your life and bring you closer to God. When you commemorate and thank God for each and every one accomplishment, advancement, or breakthrough in your life, no matter how small or big it seems to be, you are acknowledging His presence, His provision, and His purpose in your life. In this Collaborative intelligence post, we will explore the benefits of gratitude, the ways to practice gratitude, and the challenges of gratitude.
Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on the blessings in your life and express gratitude to God for all He has done? When we intentionally cultivate a spirit of thankfulness, we can see God’s hand at work in all things and experience a greater sense of peace and joy. The Bible tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). But why is gratitude so important, and how can we practice it in our daily lives?
Commemorating and Thanking – The Benefits of Gratitude
Gratitude has many benefits for our spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. Here are some of them:
Gratitude strengthens our faith:
Gratitude helps us to recognize and remember God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives. It reminds us of His love, His grace, and His promises. It also helps us to trust Him more and rely on Him more. When we thank God for what He has done, we are also expressing our confidence in what He will do. As the Psalmist says, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2, NIV).
Gratitude improves our mood:
Gratitude helps us to focus on the positive aspects of our lives, rather than the negative ones. It helps us to appreciate what we have, rather than what we lack. It also helps us to cope with stress, adversity, and challenges. When we thank God for what He has done, we are also expressing our joy and satisfaction in Him. As the Apostle Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).
Gratitude enhances our relationships:
Gratitude helps us to be more kind, generous, and compassionate towards others. It helps us to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions and gifts of others. It also helps us to express our love and appreciation to God and to others. When we thank God for what He has done, we are also expressing our gratitude to those who have helped us along the way. As the Apostle Paul says, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5, NIV).
Commemorating and Thanking – The Ways to Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is not something that happens automatically or occasionally. It is something that we need to practice intentionally and regularly. Here are some ways to practice gratitude in our daily lives:
Pray with gratitude:
Prayer is one of the best ways to express our gratitude to God. We can thank Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. We can also thank Him for the people, the opportunities, and the resources He has given us. We can also ask Him to help us to be more grateful and to show us the blessings in our lives. As the Psalmist says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5, NIV).
Journal with gratitude:
Journaling is another way to express our gratitude to God. We can write down the things that we are thankful for, the things that we have learned, and the things that we have experienced. We can also write down our prayers, our praises, and our reflections. Journaling can help us to remember and record God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives. As the Psalmist says, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12, NIV).
Celebrate with gratitude:
Celebrating is another way to express our gratitude to God. We can celebrate the milestones, the achievements, and the breakthroughs in our lives. We can also celebrate the birthdays, the anniversaries, and the special occasions of our loved ones. Celebrating can help us to share and spread God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives. As the Psalmist says, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:8-9, NIV).
The Challenges of Gratitude
Gratitude is not always easy or natural. Sometimes, we may face challenges or obstacles that make it hard for us to be grateful. Here are some of them:
The challenge of comparison:
Comparison is the enemy of gratitude. When we compare ourselves to others, we may feel dissatisfied, envious, or resentful. We may focus on what we don’t have, rather than what we do have. We may forget that God has a unique plan and purpose for each of us and that He gives us what we need, not what we want. To overcome the challenge of comparison, we need to remember that God loves us and values us and that He has blessed us in many ways. As the Apostle Paul says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV).
The challenge of complacency:
Complacency is the enemy of gratitude. When we take things for granted, we may lose our sense of wonder, awe, and appreciation. We may become indifferent, bored, or ungrateful. We may forget that every good and perfect gift comes from God and that He deserves our praise and thanksgiving. To overcome the challenge of complacency, we need to remember that God is the source of all our blessings and that He is worthy of all our gratitude. As the Psalmist says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17, NIV).
The challenge of adversity:
Adversity is the enemy of gratitude. When we face difficulties, trials, or hardships, we may feel discouraged, angry, or bitter. We may question God’s goodness, faithfulness, or love. We may doubt His presence, His provision, or His purpose in our lives. To overcome the challenge of adversity, we need to remember that God is with us, for us, and in us, and that He works all things together for our good and His glory. As the Apostle Paul says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV).
In summary, gratitude is a powerful spiritual practice that can change your life and bring you closer to God. When you commemorate and thank God for each and every one accomplishment, advancement or breakthrough in your life, no matter how small or big it seems to be, you are acknowledging His presence, His provision, and His purpose in your life. Gratitude has many benefits for our spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. Gratitude can be practiced in different ways, such as prayer, journaling, and celebrating. Gratitude can also face different challenges, such as comparison, complacency, and adversity. But with God’s help, we can overcome these challenges and cultivate a spirit of thankfulness in all circumstances. Gratitude is not just a feeling or an attitude, but a lifestyle and a choice. Let us choose to be grateful today and every day and experience the power of commemorating and thanking God for each and every one accomplishment, advancement, or breakthrough in our lives. launch
I hope you enjoyed reading and learning from this post. I hope it inspired you to practice gratitude in your daily life and experience the power of commemorating and thanking God for each and every one accomplishment, advancement, or breakthrough in your life.
References:
[1]: Thank God for What He Has Done: Acknowledging His Presence and … [1https://church.org/thank-god-for-what-he-has-done-acknowledging-his-presence-and-provision-in-our-lives/
[2]: Billy Graham: How to Be Thankful in All Things. https://billygraham.org/story/how-to-be-thankful-in-all-things/
[3]https://church.org/thank-god-for-what-he-has-done-acknowledging-his-presence-and-provision-in-our-lives/
[4]https://billygraham.org/story/how-to-be-thankful-in-all-things/
[5]Powerful Prayers of Thanks and Gratitude to God – Bible Study Tools. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/prayers-of-thanks-and-gratitude-to-god.html
