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Gratitude is being appreciative of a kindness or a benefit received. It is not about being randomly thankful for every single occurrence in life, but rather, it is an acknowledgement for the things we appreciate. Therefore, the focus is not necessarily thankfulness for the sake of thankfulness, but gratitude for the overall context of blessing in our lives.

Gratitude anchors us in the positive side of life. Gratitude defines our joy.

The Power of a Grateful Heart… Especially When You Don’t Feel Like it!

Gratitude connects every calibration point. It affects our spiritual lives, our passions, our resources, our relationships, our life development, and our life practices. Gratitude anchors us in the positive side of life. Gratitude defines our joy.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18 ESV

[shareable]Gratitude defines our joy.[/shareable]

I don’t want to be thankful for things for which I am not thankful, so this “in everything give thanks” thing is emotionally disruptive to me at times.

I reject the empty heads who, when I damage my car, spout out, “In everything give thanks….” (It reminds me of Gomer Pyle chasing Barney while shouting “Citizens arrest, citizens arrest.”) I’m sure if I think on it long enough I can find a happy thought about the situation for which I can be thankful, like I was not killed or injured, nor was anyone else, when I scratched my truck by pulling too close to my mailbox. Should I be thankful for the scratch on my truck, or is it a good time to give thanks to God that I have a truck to scratch?

In the moment I am often just aggravated and not particularly thankful.

Worse, in the context of our story, should we be thankful when someone we love dies? I can be thankful they did not suffer. I can be thankful if the death was peaceful. I can be thankful for the good things that came through their lives. I can be thankful for the Sovereign execution of their life plan. I have, and I will continue to do so. But the thought of being thankful in the midst of grief or aggravation and pausing to be thankful for the circumstance is a bit beyond me at times.

“… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

An attitude of gratitude brings the focus of perspective, it anchors us in the whole and not the part, and it acknowledges the sovereignty of God.

Gratitude brings perspective. [9:50]

Our expressions of gratitude remind us of the things for which we are thankful or grateful. We tend to focus upon the things for which we are not particularly thankful, but when we focus upon all of the things we do appreciate, it puts our life and emotions in perspective.

An exercise of gratitude is taking the time to list in your journal all of the things for which you are genuinely thankful. Another exercise I periodically undertake is taking a specific amount of time and verbally thanking God for as many things as I can think of for which I am truly grateful. Speaking or writing the things for which I am grateful causes my perspective to shift when I realize that the blessings always outweigh the dark circumstance sometimes before me.

A grateful heart prompts us to look for the light in every situation. The circumstance is sometimes darkness, but the light is the hope that transcends the circumstance.

Gratitude reflects upon the whole and not the part. [13:42]

When the Bible encourages us to be thankful in every circumstance, I do not believe it is each individual circumstance for which we are to be thankful, but it is God’s overall path for our lives for which we are most grateful.

Gratitude positions us to look at the big picture.

[shareable]Gratitude positions us to look at the big picture.[/shareable]

Focusing upon the expression of gratitude is as much hope as it is thanksgiving. Honestly, I am simply not thankful for many circumstances, but I am thankful for the things I hope for in the middle of the darkness — and for hope itself. The context of 1Thessalonians 5 is one of living in the light rather than in the darkness. It is living in the fullness of the revelation of God rather than in the darkness and hopelessness of ignorance as to God’s eternal and benevolent plan for our lives.

The fullness of the revelation tells us there is hope and a plan. The present circumstance that I do not like, and if I may be honest, for which I am not thankful is only a part of the big picture. When I think on the big picture I can find reason for gratitude, but when I look at one small part, I am sometimes simply not thankful, in fact I may even be resentful.

Gratitude frames the pieces together and then, when I see the big picture (and it may take a while for me to see it), I know I will have a grateful heart reflecting upon the whole and not the part.

Gratitude acknowledges the sovereignty of God. [21:34]

I’ve come to think of this verse, in the context in which it was originally presented, that we are to maintain our sense of gratitude to God for his path and the graciousness of His will and plan for our lives, even when the circumstances seem to betray us. I am not thankful for the circumstances that cause pain and suffering, but I am thankful for God’s benevolent path and plan for my life. A path and plan that I often do not understand, but one that I know at the end of the day, will be very good.

During a particularly painful place in my journey, I went to a large church in the city where no one would know who I was. I needed the anonymity of being able to worship and listen in a congregational gathering without well meaning intruders. The congregation partook in communion (The Lord’s Supper) together. God spoke to me in a unique way that morning, in my pain, in a way that I will never forget.

When I took the bread the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit that the bread was a reminder that Christ was with me and in me. I was not alone and I would never be alone, because the Spirit of Christ is inside me.

When I took the cup the Holy Spirit spoke to me clearly reminding me that the promise of the cup is that God had a plan for me through the blood of Christ from before the foundation of the earth, he has a redemptive plan for my life right now, and his plan carries into the future as the cup reminds me that I will one day partake of this cup with Him in heaven.

This is just us, it is our experience, it is our feelings. We do not claim our feelings to be the right feelings, but they are ours, it is our story, it is what we’ve felt and battled. I am not thankful for some things that were painful, but I am thankful for the gifts I’ve been given and the blessings I’ve experienced as a result of the sorrow.

When we are thankful for the provisions of God, we acknowledge him as the source of blessings. This is WORSHIP.

Thankfulness in every circumstance acknowledges the sovereignty of God in our lives. He does have a plan. Our lives do have meaning. Everything in our life does work together for the good outcome of conformity to Christ Jesus. Romans 8.28 tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purposes. I used to struggle with that verse of scripture until I read the rest of the chapter. The good God is working in our lives is conformity to the image of Christ. Through hardship and difficulty, through the pain and the suffering we sometimes experience, God is working the most precious gift in our life, that of knowing him and of taking on the character of Christ in our lives.

Calibration Tools…Calibrating our Lives and Lifting Those We Love and Lead. [29:41]

Gratitude affects our relationship with God. Make a list, or just speak out to God as many things as you can think of for which you are grateful. Set a minimum for yourself, perhaps 5 minutes, or 25 items, to encourage yourself to think beyond the first few things you think of.
Gratitude affects our passions and emotions. Express gratitude for the things that make you who you are, your strengths, your passions, and the things that motivate you toward the blessings in your life.
Gratitude affects our resources. Express gratitude for your resources (both spiritual and material) that enable you to experience the blessings of life. Look for new avenues of resources that will/may emerge in your thinking as you rehearse your gratitude for the provision you already have.
Gratitude affects our relationships. Express gratitude to someone important in your life for what they mean to you and what you appreciate about them. Think about and list the people in your life who are important to you and why.
Gratitude affects our life development. Express gratitude for the opportunities you’ve received. When you recognize your opportunities as blessings they multiply.
Gratitude affects our life practices. Express gratitude for the “wins” and accomplishments in your life. Identify the habits and practices that opened the door for the “win” and build upon those gifts from God.

Finally…

I don’t have to like everything, but I am grateful for the big picture work of God in my life. For me, the blessings outweigh the bad things. I’m not going to be thankful for everything that happens, I’m not, but I choose to be grateful for the blessings of God worked in my life and in the world, even those blessings that cost a lot.

Gratitude defines your joy.

044 – The Power of a Grateful Heart… Especially When You Don’t Feel Like it!