The Power of Gratitude
The concept of gratitude often needs to knock on the door of my heart. It’s a healthy reminder depending on whether my mind is leaning towards the flesh or the spirit. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
It hits in those moments of our lives when our emotions get jolted, and launch us on to a path of bad attitude, judgment, bitterness or resentment. Are you as familiar with the “oh woe is me” storyline as I am?
A speaker at our church recently challenged us with a compelling reminder on the power of gratitude. His insights were embedded by the fact that he was left barely alive after a major car wreck. His road back to recovery was strenuous, often hanging on by a thread, and if it wasn’t for the Lord’s intervention he may never have understood the full orb of practicing gratitude.
When he spoke, my book of remembrance was pried open to an unvisited memory of years ago. I was emotionally at the bottom of a deep valley, and I couldn’t understand why God had placed me there. I was away on vacation (that alone would cause someone to shout ‘gratitude girl’, but my heart was downcast).
I went out very early in the morning to sit by the pool and pray. The future looked bleak for one of my children and uncertainty swirled around my mind like a swarm of bees. And right there in the middle of overwhelming discouragement the Lord visited me.
As I looked up a mother appeared, pushing her severely disabled adult son’s wheelchair to the very edge of the pool. It was obvious that she deliberately chose this hour of the day, when her son could enjoy the pool in quiet solitude. He happily moaned as she gently wiped his legs and arms with the water.
I watched in awe. This was a perfect picture of a selfless mother, who was sentenced to carry this child’s burden for life, juxtaposed to my situation, which was a momentary affliction. With tears streaming down my face, I thanked the Lord for helping me find gratitude by looking at someone else’s heavier burden.
My sister and I have committed to hold each other accountable to gratitude as we talk about the trials of aging, ailments, and the endless list of prayer requests that come in our church emails. One of us always presses the reset button in our conversation back to gratitude. How? We acknowledge there is always someone facing something much worse.
Prayer is an essential source to attaining gratitude. It reshapes who we are in Christ and how we view this present world. God is the sovereign king of our lives, and as such, He confidently reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).
This mindset is invaluable to the Christian Walk as it shifts our focus to things that are meaningful; and puts our own concerns in their proper place.
God’s grand design for us to express gratitude is also interwoven in our health and well-being and supported by science. Yes, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and gratitude is the right remedy in lifting our spirits when debilitating circumstances hit us. Gratitude reduces stress hormones and supports immune health.
Gratitude improves our sleep quality especially when laying down to sleep. Thank Jesus for your day, His protection and remind yourself of His never-ending faithfulness. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18).
I am blessed to be reminded of the gem of gratitude.
