Posted on by Melissa

A Year of Gratitude – June

Happy June!

Wow!  Half the year has already flown by.  I cannot seem to keep up this year. The year has already been eventful and full of blessings.

Our family just came off a much needed spiritual reprieve over the Memorial Day weekend.  We enjoyed our first Airbnb experience, which overall was a very pleasant experience.  We will definitely be saving up money to do it again in the future.

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How are you doing in your challenge of making a list of three to five things for which you are thankful every day? I would love to hear from you.

I have been having a little difficulty keeping up with it in my journal. With my exercise intolerance, some days I end up crashing before I can finish journaling for the day.

This month, we’ll focus on the Impact of Gratitude.

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Most of us desire a happy and successful life — a fulfilling career, a wonderful family, stable finances, and an active social life!

Gratitude given and received through simple “thank you” gestures invokes a powerful emotional response. According to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, gratitude is the state of being grateful; thankfulness.

According to psychologists, gratitude is the natural way of acknowledging the good things of life. Psychologists have defined gratitude as a positive emotional response that we perceive on giving or receiving a benefit from someone (Emmons & McCullough, 2004).

Taking time to express our gratitude, whether to others or to the Lord, can illuminate the mind, alleviate stress, and has numerous other benefits.

Practicing gratitude helps to shift our focus from ourselves to God’s faithfulness.

Psalm 105:1-5 – 1 O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Thanking God honors and glorifies Him, but did you realize it can also benefit us?

While the Lord commands us to be thankful, He does not require our thankfulness, but as we give thanks, we become less selfish and more secure in God’s nature.

 

Expressing gratitude can . . .

1. Change our Perspective

Life is full of distractions that make it difficult to see everything God has done for us.

When the job stinks…the kids are getting on our last nerve…there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it in…life doesn’t turn out like we though it should…do I hear groaning somewhere or see your eyes rolling?

Instead of carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, it is beneficial to refocus on the Lord by thanking Him for His faithfulness.  Paul is telling the Thessalonians that God commands us to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

We should praise God even when we do not see the blessings in the midst of our trials.  We should praise Him because He is there.

Gratitude helps to change our perspective in spite of dashed hopes, strained relationships, stressful situations and unrealized dreams or desires.  Maintaining a gratitude journal is a great way to cultivate a mindset of gratitude. Regardless of the challenges I face in life, I can consistently challenge myself to list three to five things for which I am thankful each day.

 

2. Relieve Anxiety

Everyone has undoubtedly dealt with anxiety in one way or another at some point in their lives. You are familiar with the knot in your neck, your rapid heartbeat, and your racing thoughts. I can identify because I battled everyday anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder for a season following my lightning strike event. Though I’m still working through it in certain areas, God’s Word has been a huge source of consolation for me. The remedy provided by the Bible is gratitude.

 Numerous individuals in society today constantly struggle with anxiety. However, when we give thanks and offer our worries to the Lord, He takes on the burden and gives us His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).

Philippians 4:6-7 – 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.    7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

 

3. Revitalize Relationships

Having gratitude prevents us from being self-centered.  When we concentrate on God, our relationship with Him is strengthened.

A closer relationship with God improves one’s spiritual life by fostering learning, personal development, and the sharing of dreams and hopes. The Bible helps to relate to God through human connections as well as offering comfort and compassion.

Developing a connection with others who share your desire for spiritual growth can also help strengthen your spiritual life.  Attending a local church and getting to know the people there through church involvement or participating in a Bible study is a great step in developing a sense of community.  This will help you to recognize the various ways that God is working in their lives as you build connections with others.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

4. Improve overall health

A 2012 study found that grateful individuals experience fewer aches and pains, report healthier lives, and are more likely to exercise and attend regular check-ups, potentially contributing to longevity.

Robert Emmons’ research confirms that gratitude reduces toxic emotions like envy, resentment, frustration, and regret, increasing happiness and reducing depression.

Practicing gratitude can help accelerate a strong, positive sense of self.  You will be less likely to dwell on the negative elements of life and more likely to be thankful for the positive aspects. As a result, it can boost your self-esteem and reduce feelings of anxiety and worry.

Did you know that the benefits associated with gratitude include better sleep, more exercise, reduced symptoms of physical pain, lower levels of inflammation, and lower blood pressure?

We can generally be healthier when we follow God’s principles for living.  It is possible to feel better by counting our blessings.

We have a choice regarding our attitude.  It is entirely up to us how we choose to feel.   We are reminded that we have a choice in Deuteronomy 30:19-20.  We choose life when we choose to express our gratitude to God!

Proverbs 17:22 – A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Psalm 103:1-5 – 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

5. Strengthen our Faith

Gratitude strengthens our faith, aids in our recovery from the depths of discouragement, and serves as a powerful bridge between God and us.

Gratitude is most likely not at the top of your list when you’re stressed or anxious. But experience has shown me that one surefire method to alter mindsets and re-energize oneself is to acknowledge all that the Lord has accomplished.

Gratitude serves as a powerful way to communicate that you have faith in something bigger than yourself. By expressing our gratitude, we validate the giver’s generosity and kindness. Gratitude, in a spiritual sense, is an act of trusting God’s understanding and providence and recognizing Him as the ultimate provider.

The renowned Roman philosopher Cicero stated that gratitude was “not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others”.

Colossians 2:6-7 – 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

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Dear Lord, I praise Your name. You are excellent, and while I may not always understand Your plans, I trust that Your name will be forever exalted! Even though I may not always understand what is happening in my life, I trust that You are good and that You have my best interests at heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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I pray that this month as you journal God’s blessings you will feel His presence in every aspect of your life and that you will remain aware of His presence throughout the month.

 

You can download a copy of the Journaling Scripture Plan here:

https://charitymaeprosper.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/JS.June_.pdf

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