Gratitude Changes YouSample

Another benefit of developing a grateful heart is perspective. Far too often, we can only “see” what is right in front of us. Like blinders on a horse, we can become so focused on our situation that we lose sight of anything else. That is, we lack the ability to step back from our present circumstances and view them in the context of who God is and our relationship with him. This is dangerous territory because, in these moments, the strong temptation is to take full responsibility for whatever we face. We can deceive ourselves into thinking we must be self-sufficient, and if we’re not careful, we fall into the greater error of believing we are self-sufficient. If we do manage to solve a given problem, the notion of self-sufficiency becomes all the more fixed in our hearts. Of course, the foolishness of thinking we can manage on our own will eventually reveal itself, leading to frustration, anxiety, and anger that life isn’t going our way.

The regular practice of gratitude enables us to step back and take a wider, more accurate view of things. Gratitude reminds us that, ultimately, we’re not in control of anything, but we serve the One who is. Taking time to be thankful reinforces in our hearts that the earth and everything in it belongs to God. He created all there is and is sovereign over all his creation. By thanking God on a regular basis, we are set free from the lie that we are somehow a “self-made” person.

Gratitude reveals the truth of the matter – that we are dependent upon God for everything. He is the giver of all good gifts in our lives, and to think otherwise is to live in a dangerous fantasy. In a very real sense, a life marked by gratitude is a life set free. We can “see” things as they really are. We are no longer burdened with responsibilities that we never intended to be ours in the first place. We are set free to trust God and rest in his love and care over our lives.

Where are you living with the lie of self-sufficiency? How is it impacting your life, your relationships, your peace, and your well-being? What steps do you need to take to move toward a life marked by gratitude?

If you enjoyed this reading plan, we invite you to connect with ILI and discover how you can grow as a leader and accelerate the spread of the Gospel. For more information, please visit https://ILITeam.org/connect.