The Transforming Power of a Grateful HeartSample

Developing a New Habit

Whatever we do repetitively, whether that’s biting our nails or making time to exercise, slowly becomes a habit. In fact, 90% of our thoughts are repetitive, so they really become a strong habit. We have to think about the things that we think about! The thoughts on the feedback loop in our mind often come out in our words. Trash in always leads to trash out. If we think about all the junk in our lives, then complaints are likely to come out of our mouths. If we think about all the things that we are grateful for then gratitude for life will be evident. 

Gratitude is a fierce weapon! It turns out that gratitude is highly correlated with well-being and life satisfaction. My new habit of recording gratitude, across time, was deeply impactful to my heart and my family. I decided that I never wanted to stop giving thanks. This was a new intimate life-giving personal habit that I could actually be in charge of myself. No one was responsible for my new habit of gratitude but me. This new habit was producing a change in my heart and my home. 

Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy our joy. Gratitude is a weapon against the enemy of our souls. Since life is hard, cultivating a grateful heart isn’t always an easy task, but it is well worth the effort. Our enemy wants us to give in and give up, sinking into hopelessness, depression, and despair. But if we keep noticing the good and if we keep looking toward our divine Redeemer, then our hope will never be consumed by hopelessness. Our commitment and diligence to be grateful is a life-time game changer. 

A heart becomes even more grateful when it experiences the significant love of Christ and His redeeming work in our lives. As the intimacy of our relationship with God grows, so grows our gratitude. Each day is a gift for greater glory at hand. The intertwining of relationship with God and gratitude is real.

The Bible tells us to give thanks in ALL things for this is the will of God for us. Really, ALL things? It helped me to realize that the Bible didn’t say FOR all things but IN all things. This is a reflection of our child-like and confident trust in the Trustworthy ONE. When I choose to give thanks in all things, I choose to release the reins of my control and surrender it to the One who loves me most. 

Develop the habit of having a grateful heart. Wield this weapon against your enemy. It will be a game-changer for your days.

Ponder:

Ponder your thoughts and the daily activity of your heart. Is gratitude a mental habit? How can you develop a more grateful heart?

Prayer:

Oh Lord I want to give thanks in all things. Help me develop the new habit of a grateful heart. Help me build new mental pathways of grateful thinking.