"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Giving thanks to God is an important part of our Christian life. In a world of turmoil and unrest it can be hard to think about being grateful. Taking time to reflect on all the blessings that God has poured out in our lives can bring us peace (Phil 4:7) and contentment. God commands us to be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thes. 5:18)) and an attitude of gratitude helps us to focus on our blessings rather than what we do not have.
Benefits of Giving Thanks Include:
- Gratitude glorifies God.
- Gratitude brings peace.
- Gratitude leads to joy.
- Gratitude keeps us focused on God.
- Gratitude improves our mood and overall health.
- Gratitude keeps us focused on the positive things in life rather than dwelling on the negative emotions.
Choose Wisely
Everyday you have a choice on what you will think about. Dr. Caroline Leaf, cognitive neuroscientist and author, said, “As you think, you change the structure of your brain.”
The happiness of your life depends on the quality of our thoughts. –Marcus Aurelius
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
A Story to Ponder
There is an old story of a waiter who asked a customer whether he had enjoyed the meal. The guest replied that everything was fine, but it would have been better if they had served more bread. The next day, when the man returned, the waiter doubled the amount of bread, giving him four slices instead of two, but still the man was not happy. The next day, the waiter doubled the bread again, without success.
On the fourth day, the waiter was really determined to make the man happy. And so he took a nine-foot-long (3-m) loaf of bread, cut it in half, and with a smile, served that to the customer. The waiter could scarcely wait for the man’s reaction.
After the meal, the man looked up and said, “Good as always. But I see you’re back to giving only two slices of bread.”
Previous Blog Posts On Gratitude
The Importance of Cultivating A Heard of Gratitude
Articles on Gratitude
7 Benefits of Cultivating Gratitude in your Everyday Life
How Gratitude Can Rewire Your Brain for Happiness and Success
How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain
7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude
