Did you notice the sunshine? The beautiful clouds? The mountains in the background? The many flowers that weren’t discolored? The cup of coffee? The baby that smiled at the traffic signal? Oh there are so many beautiful things to be grateful for, and as we practice being grateful we will notice them more and more. Today my blog is about why should we choose to be grateful?
3 REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL:
Reason #1: Being Grateful makes you Happier and Healthier
You must have sung the hymn “Count Your Blessings” many times. But did you know that literally counting your blessings increases your emotional health? Researchers had one group of students write for 20 minutes each day about things they were grateful for, a second about things they were angry about, and a third about random topics like the color of their shoes. Guess which group was happiest at the end of the experiment? The ones who wrote about things they were grateful for of course!
Reason #2: Being Grateful is God’s Will
It is God’s will that we give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It pleases God when we are thankful. He deserves the credit. Gratitude shouldn’t just happen one day a year around a thanksgiving dinner, but every day. Instead of being sour that your car’s side mirror got knocked off, rejoice in the fact that you have a car to get you around? Instead of dragging your feet with an ungrateful attitude into work, be thankful that you have a job and some income coming in? Whatever it is for you, I encourage you to release your faith by thanking God for what you do have!
Reason #3: There Are Sad Consequences of Ingratitude
When people are not grateful they tend to complain, and that isn’t good for anyone. For example, even though God had delivered the Israelites from slavery and given them manna to eat, they were not grateful. Notice what happens: “And when the people complained, it displeased God and He heard it” (Numbers 11:1). So the Lord hears when we complain, and He does not like it.
I’D BE HAPPY IF . . .
Some people have a hard time being grateful for what they have. They say, “I’d be happy if only I had [fill in the blank—a new car, an iPod, good hair, etc.].” Like the girl who says, “If I were 16, then I’d be happy.” Then she turns 16 and says, “If guys start asking me out, then I’ll be happy.” And then guys start asking her out, and when she’s older she says, “If I get a boyfriend, then I’ll be happy.” Then she gets a boyfriend and says, “If I can break up with my boyfriend, then I’ll be happy.” And so it goes. If we say, “I’ll be happy if . . . ,” the happiness may never come. But when we are grateful, we invite happiness to come immediately.
"All happy people are grateful.
Ungrateful people cannot be happy.
We think being unhappy leads people to complain,
but complaining leads to people becoming unhappy."
TAKE A GRATITUDE CHALLENGE
We always talk about counting our blessings—let’s do it! This morning I did it and it was awesome. Write a list of 100 things you are thankful for. Some might think that is too many. If that is the case, try this:
Write 10 closest people (family/friends/relatives) you are grateful for.
Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.
Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.
Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.
Write 10 modern-day inventions you are grateful for.
Write 10 mentors (colleagues/ classmates/preachers/leaders) you are grateful for.
Write 10 foods you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.
When we make a list like this, we discover that a list of 100 doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the things God has given us.
