Gratitude

[CoffeeDrinker]

Meaning of Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Psychologist say Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—as opposed to, for example, a consumer-driven emphasis on what one wants.

However, as a christian Gratitude gets at the very essence of what it means to be created, finite, fallen, redeemed, and sustained by the God of all grace.

My office bible study group met during lunch today to discuss the chapter we just read on Humility. In this chapter Chuck Swindoll touches on Gratitude in a section and discusses how it develops humility. I know this is so simple and easy and YET I swear it was profound as if it was talking to me directly (just what I needed to hear / read).

I get so caught up in why why why / how how how / I want I want I want........ in all of my thinking how often do I really stop and have Gratitude for the life and death of Christ and what it personally did for me? It's embarrassing to say it's not on the forefront of my thinking. This is just sad and not even right. I am quick to always tell God what I need, how He can help me, but how often do I say Thank you, Lord? Don't get me wrong, I do say Thank You often, but do I really do it with Gratitude or is it more repetitious?

On the way to work this morning I was praying and talking to God and telling him how I need him / The Trinity to lead me and direct me into a deeper walk and bring me into a better understanding. This was an answer to our conversation this morning. God is always so good to help me and yet showing Gratitude is not one of the first things I do.

I learned a lot today and just wanted to share it with everyone. Gratitude is so important yet how many times do we let it slip by. It's important to have Gratitude towards God for what He did for us, it's important to show Gratitude towards our family and friends and even our coworkers and bosses. It's actually important in every area. Now I understand how Gratitude can bring about Humility.

I am so glad I am a born again christian and I am so glad God hears me and then answers my questions. It's good to be a christian.

 

[Peter Luke]

Great thread.

For me, gratitude only comes after acceptance.

Whenever I have no gratitude, or let it slip by, it is because there is some person, place, thing or situation I am not accepting in my life.
These days I am able to accept things just the way they are, because deep down I know I am okay with Christ in my life.

Acceptance is a lot to do with changing my attitude; mostly about letting go of my fears.
Non-acceptance is about resenting any person, place, thing or situation not going MY WAY. Self-will again at the helm.

As sooner as I accept it the sooner my resentments disappear. My fears about it not going my way also disappears.
This liberation of resentment and fears creates gratitude in me.

 

[Annie]

Have you ever been asked for internet feedback on a shopping experience?

If it was bad, you tend to leap to the keyboard to vent your disappointment/rage and berate the relevant company.

If it was good, you tend to not even bother, with your valuable time, to express your thanks. You expect the service to be good. You paid for it!

Jesus has paid for our sins. We need to make time to express our gratitude.

Thanks for the reminder CoffeeDrinker

 

[sandpiper]

Yes, the older I get the more I realize the value of a grateful heart. Gratitude is powerful and brings so much peace. It enables us to see the hand of God in our circumstances much better than if we rail against the storm or go against the current by failing to give thanks in all things. God is with us as we are endeavoring by prayer and commitment to His Will and Way for us. I am especially grateful that He has given us the written Word. "Thank you, Jesus, mainly for dying on the cross for me. Amen!"

 

[dqhall]

I had floaters in both eyes, then after a time, floaters in my right eye only. Through studying nutrition and a primarily plant based diet, I lost weight and lowered my blood pressure. One day I was blessed with clear vision and no floaters. I forgot to thank God for the healing, because as time went by, I had forgotten I ever had floaters. This hour floaters returned. They are like squiggles in my vision. I presume they returned was because I went off my low blood pressure diet.. I thanked God for my health, past healing and may return to the diet that I was on when the floaters disappeared before. It is good to give thanks to God after God helps direct a person's studies.

 

[Annie]

I had floaters in both eyes, then after a time, floaters in my right eye only. Through studying nutrition and a primarily plant based diet, I lost weight and lowered my blood pressure. One day I was blessed with clear vision and no floaters. I forgot to thank God for the healing, because as time went by, I had forgotten I ever had floaters. This hour floaters returned. They are like squiggles in my vision. I presume they returned was because I went off my low blood pressure diet.. I thanked God for my health, past healing and may return to the diet that I was on when the floaters disappeared before. It is good to give thanks to God after God helps direct a person's studies.

Give thanks AND stick to your health plan. I've done the same thing. I thought 'Yeah I'm OK now' and then didn't carry on with my healthy diet etc. Whoops! Give thanks AND look after yourself. Looking after your own health is one of the best ways that you can give thanks to God. It shows that you are thankful for everything that He has given you.

And, as we get older, it is more of a concern

Blessings (from someone who's starting to feel the aches and pains)

Annie

xxx

 

[dqhall]

Thanks for the encouragement. I am 58. I read nutrition and health books by Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, T. Collin Campbell, Dr. Dean Ornish and Daniel G. Amen. My weight is in the normal range. I have an exercise bike. I tried to exercise 20 minutes a day. Forming good habits is important.

 

[Annie]

Thanks for the encouragement. I am 58. I read nutrition and health books by Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, T. Collin Campbell, Dr. Dean Ornish and Daniel G. Amen. My weight is in the normal range. I have an exercise bike. I tried to exercise 20 minutes a day. Forming good habits is important.

You are so right. It's all about habits. Bad habits are something I fell into. Good habits seem harder to make. But once you make them, they are awesome

 

[JPPT1974]

Yeah as it is easier said than done. But once we go into God's will and way and do things and know our bodies are His temple for us.It gets easier. Like you said Annie, hard at first.

 

[choir loft]

Meaning of Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Psychologist say Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has—as opposed to, for example, a consumer-driven emphasis on what one wants.

However, as a christian Gratitude gets at the very essence of what it means to be created, finite, fallen, redeemed, and sustained by the God of all grace.

My office bible study group met during lunch today to discuss the chapter we just read on Humility. In this chapter Chuck Swindoll touches on Gratitude in a section and discusses how it develops humility. I know this is so simple and easy and YET I swear it was profound as if it was talking to me directly (just what I needed to hear / read).

I get so caught up in why why why / how how how / I want I want I want........ in all of my thinking how often do I really stop and have Gratitude for the life and death of Christ and what it personally did for me? It's embarrassing to say it's not on the forefront of my thinking. This is just sad and not even right. I am quick to always tell God what I need, how He can help me, but how often do I say Thank you, Lord? Don't get me wrong, I do say Thank You often, but do I really do it with Gratitude or is it more repetitious?

On the way to work this morning I was praying and talking to God and telling him how I need him / The Trinity to lead me and direct me into a deeper walk and bring me into a better understanding. This was an answer to our conversation this morning. God is always so good to help me and yet showing Gratitude is not one of the first things I do.

I learned a lot today and just wanted to share it with everyone. Gratitude is so important yet how many times do we let it slip by. It's important to have Gratitude towards God for what He did for us, it's important to show Gratitude towards our family and friends and even our coworkers and bosses. It's actually important in every area. Now I understand how Gratitude can bring about Humility.

I am so glad I am a born again christian and I am so glad God hears me and then answers my questions. It's good to be a christian.

Gratitude is not only a polite reaction to God's mercy, it is required. Gratitude is a key component to peace with God as well as appreciation of His blessings.

Take a look at scripture as well as secular human history.

In those cases where mankind gave God credit for some good thing, they were blessed. The Roman Emperor Constantine gave God thanks and recognition for allowing him to ascend the throne. God rewarded this recognition by allowing him to reunite a divided empire. When the Hebrews gave thanks to God for allowing them to win the new land of Israel, God gave them prosperity.

Conversely, when mankind refuses to acknowledge God's grace in their lives by taking all the credit for themselves they often lose the thing they thought they'd obtained by their own cleverness and strength. Emperors who followed Constantine refused to acknowledge the grace of God. The Roman Empire was then permanently split and corruption ruled the day. When the Hebrews failed to acknowledge God and ran after false gods, their blessings ended and they lost their country.

It is not difficult to be grateful to another person for favors and it certainly isn't hard to be grateful to God for His blessings.

During Hurricane Irma, my family was required to evacuate our home in the face of category 4 winds. We returned home after nearly a week to discover our home suffered no damage despite wreckage across the street. We are grateful to God for sparing us and our home.

Beware of repetition. It lies on the border of neglect. When you are grateful to God - mean it.

 

[Cturtle]

During Hurricane Irma, my family was required to evacuate our home in the face of category 4 winds. We returned home after nearly a week to discover our home suffered no damage despite wreckage across the street. We are grateful to God for sparing us and our home.

Glory to God! That's an awesome testimony of The Father's grace and love for His children! Thanks for sharing

My many more blessings and Father's favor be yours and your family's in abundance!