Gratitude

Today, I was moved to write a note to the Lord to thank Him. The word gratitude came close to my heart.

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. Researchers have established an overwhelming connection between gratitude and good health in the past few decades. Keeping a gratitude journal causes less stress, improves sleep quality, and builds emotional awareness (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005).

Some research is related to gratitude. In one study, they asked all participants to write a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics.

One group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them, and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on them being positive or negative). After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation.

Most studies on this topic support an association between gratitude and an individual’s well-being. Interesting right?

What does the Bible say about gratitude?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

Scriptures have reminded us to always give thanks in all circumstances. I remember reading this verse growing up, and I used to wonder. How do we give thanks in all circumstances? How should I react when things don’t go according to my plan? The Holy Spirit reminded me today to have this heart of gratitude.

Researchers are trying to find the association between gratitude and personal well-being, but scriptures have been written centuries ago to always have the heart of gratitude. The answer was always in the Bible.

When we look at the parables of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes, Jesus gave thanks, and it multiplied. Instead of grumbling, he didn’t have, and he gave thanks. 

Matthew 14:17-19; “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

There should be a reason why Jesus gave thanks first. This passage of the Scripture reminds us of the power of giving thanks. Jesus was reminding us to give thanks. Miracles manifest when we give thanks.

Our eyes are often blinded to see God’s goodness in our lives. Do you know why? We are so focused on what we don’t have. The devil doesn’t want us to have a heart of gratitude. As a result, we are unhappy and frustrated in life. This is not God’s original plan for you and me.

If you are someone here struggling to provide for your family, instead of being frustrated with what you don’t have, maybe be grateful for the little you have.

If you are someone here who is struggling with relationship issues, instead of grumbling, take a step aside and thank God for the relationship. Start looking at your partner as how God sees him or her.

If you are having a health challenge, do not fret. Thank God for the gift called life. You may have a health challenge that has limited your walking ability. Do not fret. Give thanks. Give thanks for your health. Do not see incomplete healing. The devil always wants us to see what we don’t have. Remember, Healing comes from the Lord. It is a gift. It is not treated. It is healed. Doctors treat. Jesus heals. That is the difference. It is a gift.

No matter what your challenges are, take time to give thanks daily. Thank God for the gift of life.Thank God for family.Thank God for the right church.Thank God for health. Have this heart of thanking God. Ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the goodness of God.

As I was writing this note, my colleague sent me this image from an author named Craig Dorfman. It is a classic that has been written since 1930s.

You may be someone in a dark tunnel today. Today, I want to encourage my readers that your track must also go out. Just keep going. Give thanks for the track. Before you know it, some light will be showing.

Say this today: ”I thank you, Lord, for this gift called Life.”-R.J.JOHN.

Prayer for today: ”Abba Father, I thank you, Lord, you are the Lord of my readers and myself. Thank you, Lord, for reminding us of the power of gratitude. Help us to have a heart of gratitude. I pray, Lord, we remove murmuring from our lives as it is toxins in our lives. Enough is enough! I pray we learn to give thanks in all circumstances in our life.”Amen.

Application: Have a gratitude journal. Learn to give thanks. At least 5 things to thank God daily.

Salvation Prayer: If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, please do repeat after me.

TO ACCEPT JESUS, PRAY THIS PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

I acknowledge that I have made mistakes and made choices that have fallen short of Your best for my life. I have sinned, and I need a Saviour. Jesus, I believe You are God’s own Son, and You died to pay the price for my sin and gave me eternal life. I believe You rose to life again three days later to give me victory. I receive Your forgiveness for my sin and ask You to come into my heart. Wash me clean of all I have done wrong, and help me, Lord, to begin to live for You. Holy Spirit, come into my life and help me to get to know You as my Lord and Saviour.

Thank you, Jesus. Amen

If you have confessed and repeated this prayer of Salvation, welcome to the family.

Romans chap 10:9 -10 ( Good News); That if you confess with your mouth,” Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

This is your first step to knowing this Personal Savior called Jesus. I wish to guide you to the next step. Which is to connect you to a church nearby your area. You can be from any country. Please email me at r.j.john25@gmail.com, and I will channel you to a Spirit-Filled local church that can guide you through this new journey.

Partnership: If you have been blessed with this note, I encourage my readers to share it with their loved ones, subscribe, and keep me in prayer as I continue writing for the Lord. It is my desire to fulfill God’s call in my life. It is a journey of a dream. A journey dependent unto the Lord alone. If you wish to partner with me in bringing these writings to translate, publish, or edit them, feel free to contact me. Please contact me if you are a publisher, marketer, IT savvy , animator or a designer and believe in this dream.

If you have been moved to partner financially, feel free to invest in this journey of writing for the Kingdom. Not my writings.His writings. He is using me as a vessel to bring His writings to Judea, Samaria, and the earth’s ends. The finance received would be used to take these notes to be published and translated into books , to market these books, and to upgrade the current website to a friendlier version. I want to bring these notes to a platform that reaches out to many more.

I am a simple girl from a small town with simple faith, wanting to do big for the Lord. I know with God on my side, nothing is impossible. Allow me to move to bring these notes to another level of reading for the benefit of my readers. If you believe in this dream, I invite you to partner financially with me – R.J. John.

Bank: Maybank

Bank account number: 112054094018

Bank Payee Name: Rowena John

Overseas Transfer Swift Code: MBBEMYKL

Thank you, readers, and remain blessed.

Contact author today: r.j.john25@gmail.com