Practicing Gratitude All Year Round
On our Wednesday night service prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, I released an important word about gratitude. While many of us are reminded during the fall season to be grateful for what’s been given to us, I want to stress just how beneficial gratitude is as a daily life choice.
I shared then, and I reiterate here, that thanksgiving is a state of being. An attitude of gratefulness is a key foundation for contentment and peace.
Last year CBS news made this point:
“The health benefits of being thankful. While the big turkey dinner usually takes center stage, Thanksgiving is ultimately a holiday centered around gratitude … Research has linked gratitude with an increase in self-esteem, resiliency and overall life satisfaction.”
Now let’s go to the Word of God and see what it says about these benefits, as well.
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”—2 Timothy 6:6
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”—Psalm 100:4
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”—Colossians 3: 15-17
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 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.”–Philippians 4:4-7
Many times, as Believers, we fail to realize just how important the quality of gratitude can be in our everyday lives. Forbes magazine shared these facts about thankfulness…
- Gratitude opens the door to more relationships.
- Gratitude improves physical health.
- Gratitude improves psychological health.
- Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression.
- Grateful people sleep better.Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
- Gratitude improves self-esteem.
- Gratitude increases mental strength.
With these facts in mind, it becomes abundantly clear why we are instructed to “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” God knows that a healthy heart is a thankful heart!
At Curt Landry Ministries we are so thankful for our incredible staff and volunteers. They work tirelessly to see that our day-to-day operations run smoothly. And to our covenant partners, and all of you who sow into the work that we do in Israel, we say, Thank you! Your generous contributions have touched so many lives both abroad and at home.
We hope you will make it a point in this next year ahead to live a lifestyle of thanksgiving. We know that not every day brings joy with it, but when you can find something to be grateful for despite tough circumstances, that is where hope can thrive.
You, dear readers, are such a blessing to us, and we cannot wait to see and hear the incredible things that the Lord will do through each and every one of you!
“‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.’”—Numbers 6:24-26