The question quickly compelled conviction in my heart, “What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?” 

In so many ways, I’ve treated God’s blessings as a vending machine. Much of the time, I punch in my request code, grab the blessing, and continue with my day. Other times, I dial in the request only to have a different answer pop down the shute, leaving me with feelings of being cheated and ungrateful.

In Luke 17:11-19, ten lepers received the healing power of Jesus, but only one comes back, falling to his knees in a display of honor and gratitude. While they headed home to celebrate with family and friends, this man sacrificed precious time to thank the One responsible for his healing and wholeness.

For this leper, and all God’s children, gratitude is a powerful – often forgotten – tool. One that fans honor and praise, facilitates His presence, flips our perception, feeds miracles, and fuels joy. This week, we’re slamming the door to the uninvited guest of ungratefulness.

The question quickly compelled conviction in my heart, "What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?" Gratitude fans honor and praise, facilitates His presence, flips our perception, feeds miracles, and fuels joy.

Key Verse: Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

More than any other sacrifice, God wants to know His children are grateful for every good and perfect gift He’s given us. Gratitude celebrates God for who He is, praises Him for all He’s created and glorifies Him for all He’s done in our lives. A grateful heart recognizes that, without God, we would have absolutely nothing. Fan into flame honor and praise through the power of gratitude by writing a list of ten things for which you are grateful.

    • I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. Psalm 69:30-31

When we honor God with thanksgiving, we are building a throne for Him in our hearts. If gratitude draws us into His presence (Psalm 100:4), then the opposite is also true: an ungrateful heart drags us out of His presence. Spend five minutes merely thanking God for who He is: present, faithful, trustworthy, a strong tower, redeemer, deliverer, refuge, strength, and hope. A quick flip through the Psalms will give ample areas of thanksgiving.

    • “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” Psalm 7:17

Gratitude is a powerful tool in our lives. Grab the free Scripture writing plan and learn how gratitude honors God, changes your perspective, fuels joy, feeds miracles, and draws you into His presence.

 

  • Wednesday – Gratitude Flips Our Perception

Like chemo kills cancer (prayerfully), gratitude kills grumbling. Over and over, we’re instructed to sacrifice thanksgiving in all circumstances. This doesn’t mean thanking God for the wrong or evil things done because that would be counter to His character; instead, it’s thanking God that, even though these things exist, He is good, and He will work it out for good. As you go about your day, intentionally look for ways to thank God, resisting the urge to complain.

    • “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians. 5:18

  • Thursday – Gratitude Feeds Miracles

Before distributing the loaves and fish to more than 5000 people, Jesus gave thanks. Before He raised Lazarus from the grave, He thanked God for the miracle. How often do we wait to thank God until after we receive the miracle? Start today by thanking Him for His power to perform miracles, His desire to bless His children, and what He holds for your future. This displays faith in His ability.

    • “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

  • Friday – Gratitude Fuels Joy

At the root of joy, you will find gratitude, a heart overflowing with thanksgiving. Because gratitude draws us into His presence (Psalm 100:4) and because there is fullness of joy in His presence (Psalm 16:11), we are going to spend time thanking God for the many great things He has done for us. Spend five minutes flipping through your memories, thanking God for everything that comes to mind.

    • The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3

Gratitude is not only a command but a gift. A gift that gives amid sorrow, pain, struggling, and everyday life. So, get your free Scripture writing plan and prayer prompts on the power of gratitude, and let’s honor God with our sacrificial thanksgiving, as He rightfully deserves.

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