Learn to have a grateful heart
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good
-Psalm 107:1 (AMP)
It's so easy to forget how blessed we really are. I know from personal experience, it's hard to feel grateful for anything when the bills are mounting, the health issues are relentless, and we can't see any way out of our dilemmas, whatever they may be.
God doesn't mean we have to be grateful for our difficulties, but to maintain a grateful heart despite life's difficulties.
Hardships can make us hard and pessimistic. God desires for us to cultivate a heart of gratitude - one the devil cannot gain control over.
We don't thank God to move him to do something for us. But to show him we appreciate the life he has given us. It helps us cultivate a personal relationship with him.
In these modern times, we take so much for granted. We need to be creative and think about the kinds of things God does for us that we appreciate. If we think we have nothing to be thankful for, as believers, we can start by being thankful for eternal salvation.
In our busy lifestyles and complex world, we can forget the simplest things we have. As many of you know, our health is one of the greatest assets we have. We can't do or achieve much without it.
Thanking God throughout our day for our health, the things we're able to do such as walking, talking, bending, lifting or seeing and hearing are great places to start. Any one of these is an asset.
Being grateful for our finances (as little or much as we have), a warm blanket on a cold night, our family, friends and the simplest things in life goes a long way to show God our appreciation.
Each precious thing we thank him for, improves our attitudes, renews our minds and gives us a new perspective on life. It stirs our souls with hope for better things to come. It stops the grumbling and helps us overcome fear and depression, as it cultivates satisfaction and fills us with joy.
Learning to have a grateful heart and maintaining it is something we need to be good at. This Thanksgiving, let's start by cultivating an attitude of gratitude that changes our perspective, opens doors for blessings to flow, and praises God for his goodness.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She is hosting a "Writing for Fun or Profit" conference in February, 2019. Contact her for information and to reserve your spot, Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.