06
Nov '19

An Attitude of Gratitude

Posted on Nov 6, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: , , , , , 626

06
Nov '19
Gratitude is a topic that often comes up when Thanksgiving rolls around, but it’s a worthwhile topic to talk about all year round. I want gratitude to be part of who I am rather than something I just invoke during the holidays or whenever something good happens in my life.
Not only does it feel good to have a grateful outlook on life, but the benefits of gratitude are scientifically proven to affect everything from your relationships to your stress level to the quality of your sleep.
If someone were to ask me to name things I’m grateful for, I’d have no problem coming up with a list:
I’m grateful for my family and friends.
I’m grateful for the roof over my head.
I’m grateful for the abundant food I have to eat.
I’m grateful for the clothing I have to wear.
I’m grateful for the freedoms my country provides.
I’m grateful for my healthy and functional body.

That’s only a small part of an extensive list.

If someone then asked me why I’m grateful, I could answer that easily, too:

I’m grateful for the roof over my head because I know many people are homeless.
I’m grateful for the abundant food I have to eat because I know others are starving.
I’m grateful for the clothing I have to wear because I know others lack basic needs.
I’m grateful for the freedoms my country provides because I know some live with oppression and hate, and there are refugees with no place to call home.
I’m grateful for my relatively healthy and functional body because so many are extremely sick or disabled.
I’m grateful for my family and friends because I know others who have lost loved ones or lack a strong and loving support system.

Most of all I am grateful for a personal relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ that was initiated through His saving grace. I have discovered that when I begin to thank God for all the good things in my life it is as if a switch is turned on and I find my mind automatically moving from the negative to the positive.
If I were to place all the bad stuff in my life on the left side of a scale – like a scale of justice – and all the good stuff on the right side of that scale, the right side will far outweigh the left side.
An old hymn writer put it this way:
“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed.
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost.
Count your many blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
(Johnson Oatman, Jr.; 1856-1926)
 
 
Written By: Pastor Ron Huffstetler

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