“What are you thankful for this week?” This is the ice-breaker question that minimizes the importance of thanksgiving, shrinking it down to the equivalent question: “What made you happy this week?” Praise, thanksgiving and gratitude are three words that, at their core, mean the same thing. They express approval, admiration and appreciation, along with a readiness to show kindness. Over the years, the concept of gratitude has been diminished into the mere emotion of thankfulness.
Gratitude is not a temporary state. We tend to think of it as only an emotion or something we express out of politeness. Rather, it should be a continual attitude that acknowledges the blessings God has given us, not just a response to positive circumstances.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 states, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Paul reminds us, in his letter to the Thessalonians, that our lives should be filled with gratitude in all things, even the hardest situations of life. We are to focus on God’s love and the abundance of his provision, given to us through His word and our personal relationship with Him.
Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Having a grateful heart leads us into a deeper relationship with the Lord, fostering the peace He gives His children. It shifts our focus from the personal desires of this world to God’s greater purpose.
Do not misunderstand this concept. Yes, we should be thankful for the little things in life that make us smile throughout our day. However, I would call this the emotional state of happiness, rather than an intentional action of gratefulness that we are called to as Christians.
Living our lives in a grateful manner is one of the most crucial ways that we can distinguish ourselves from the rest of the world. When people look at your life, they should not see someone who blends into the crowd and faces life the same as everybody else. I think this is why the concept of gratitude is mentioned over 250 times throughout the Bible.
Having a thanks-oriented mindset helps us focus not on just being thankful when something really exciting happens or being upset about what we do not have. It allows us to fix our eyes on what we already have in Christ. Gratitude changes our perspective, giving us the ability to see God’s plan being fulfilled in all things, even the challenging times.
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