“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm107:150
In today’s world, not many of us are satisfied with life. We desire more and more from it and are disappointed with things we can’t receive. And we are frustrated because of our unfulfilled dreams or failed plans. We often complain and get resentful about our circumstances and shortcomings focusing more on things we don’t have. In the midst of all our discontentment, we often overlook things God has blessed us with and forget to count our blessings.
As children, we were taught by our parents to thank God for all things we receive like food, clothes, books, candies, toys, etc. These days the attitude of gratitude is fading away. It is being replaced with the attitude of comparison and dissatisfaction. Not many of us have the sense of thankfulness
remaining in our heart for things we are blessed with. Somewhere we are missing out on the joy of contentment.
Finding Gratitude in Our Daily Life
While we are busy comparing ourselves with people, their possessions, material things, and lifestyle, we often miss out seeing the blessings of our lives. Through social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, the edited version of our life is published only displaying the good things like celebrations, achievements, travel, and fun. While the downfalls, failures or struggles of our lives are never shown on social media.
Seeing the thriving lives of others, we often feel we aren’t blessed, progressive or prospering. The feeling of discontentment and low self-esteem creeps in. Instead of thanking God for His provisions in our lives, we tend to ask Him for more blessings, prosperity, and progress in our lives.
[Tweet “Don’t miss the blessings in your life because you’re too busy comparing yourself to others”]
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Psalms103:2
David stands as an apt example for us to follow. He always had a grateful heart. God himself testifies about him being a man after God’s own heart. Throughout the Psalms we see him praising and thanking God. He is thankful to God both in His good times and his difficulties. He is grateful for his life as a shepherd and for the throne God gives him.
Songwriter Matt Redman has a beautifully written a song of praise when circumstances around him were unpleasant.
Blessed be Your name when the sun’s shining down on me.
When the world’s “all as it should be,” blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering.
Though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your name.
Lessons in Gratitude
Let’s be thankful to God when the sun shines down on us and when we find ourselves on the road of suffering. Let’s thank Him for all His goodness in our good times and for His strength and peace in our hard times. Let us spend quality time pondering on all His goodness, mercies and blessing He has showered on our lives.
Give Him thanks from our heart which is filled with gratitude
. Let gratitude become our lifestyle. When we are grateful to God, we are grateful to others too. When we learn to count our blessings, surely we will be surprised to see how much God has done in our lives.
[Tweet “I’m choosing to let gratitude become my lifestyle”]
Elizabeth writes to encourage others through God's Word and her life experiences. She writes to point people to the hope and love of Jesus in the midst of their trials. She believes God has unique plans for each one of our lives and when we embrace His promises and His plans, we can live a life which brings Glory to His name. She is a wife, mother and a budding writer who wants to reflect God's love, truth, and grace through her words. She lives in Trivandrum, Kerala, India with her husband Nevin, and children Asher and Athalie.
