Most of us know cultivating a grateful heart is good for us. But do we know just how good? While practicing daily gratitude may seem like another chore, our Creator gives so much weight to the exercise of thanksgiving that we should be convinced—THE POWER OF GRATITUDE FAR OUTWEIGHS THE FEW MINUTES IT TAKES TO PRACTICE IT!
There are so many reasons to be intentional about gratefulness. Here are a few:
- Gratitude Glorifies God. This is reason enough to give God thanks. Our gratitude exalts Him, the Giver, not the gifts. Gratefulness helps us remember that all we have comes, not because of us, but from God. (11 Cor. 4:15)
- Gratitude Puts us Squarely in God’s Will. We tend to think of God’s will as some big, mystical plan that is difficult to find. Sometimes it means simple obedience. “In everything give thanks,” not just on the sunny days, but also on the difficult days. (1 Thes. 5:18)
- Gratitude Brings Peace. Counting your blessings helps you get rid of worry that keeps you awake at night. It helps us see God’s hand all over our circumstances. When we give Him our thanks, He gives us His supernatural PEACE!
- Gratitude Helps Us Live in the Present. Jim Elliot said, “Wherever you are, be all there!” But that is difficult to do when we are anxiously rushing through our days. Gratitude helps. It opens our eyes to the beauty in an ordinary day. It lets us see this day, this moment, as a gift and to take in the abundance, right now. “Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” (Ecc. 7:10)
It should not surprise us that habitual giving of thanks yields many physical and psychological benefits, such as:
- lower blood pressure
- decreased depression
- improved quality of sleep
- decreased anxiety
- lower mental stress levels
- improved motivation and productivity
Health Tip: Take 5 minutes every day to make a list of your blessings and remember to THANK HIM!
Ernie Stoltzfus
Patient Advocate, Anabaptist HealthShare