The Power of Gratitude

By. Jeanice Sherai

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.

~Cicero

It’s cheesy to have a November blog on gratitude, right?

I mean it’s November…

November is usually remembered and loved because of Thanksgiving Day and I’m sure every blog or sales paper or email that you are receiving in this season is about… thankfulness and gratitude.

I get it, I get it. You’ve heard it, you know the facts behind gratitude. You understand it.

Yet, if you know these things, why do we tend to fall away from gratitude and into a cycle of being in what we know of as a rut?

When everything is great, we are thankful. Life is beautiful, the sky is blue, birds are chirping and we are truly grateful for all that is happening to us.

Have you had a day like that recently? I sure hope so. It’s good to have these days but we also understand that these are not always the days we have.

Just imagine on this beautiful blue sky and bird chirping day, you suddenly get a flat tire?

What is the first thing that you will immediately say?

“It’s always something!”

“I can’t win for losing!”

“God, why do these things keep happening to me!”

We suddenly forget about those blue skies as soon as we notice a little gray in them, but do you truly understand the power in your words? Do you truly know that your words have the power to form your life?

Have you thought about the way that God created Heaven and Earth? It was through His Words.

Your words will not only create the narrative of your life but it will also transform your brain in a way that causes it to believe what you are speaking. Suddenly you can’t even think positive let alone be positive. You’ve allowed your words to not only impact your life, but also impact your mind and thoughts.

What’s the reason you can’t find anything to be thankful for in life? Check out what you are speaking and what your mind is thinking!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

Did you know that in the scriptures right before this verse, Paul is instructing the Philippians to be anxious for nothing? He is telling them do not worry, instead PRAY! Submit those things to God and let His peace surround you and surpass all your understanding and then he gives them wisdom.

We worry because we are concerned with the worst that could happen instead of the BEST that our God can do in our situations. Life comes with many trials, many things will not go our way, but isn’t that comforting? Isn’t it comforting that things may not go our way, but it will go in the way of God?

Show gratitude in this current place. Let your mind begin to thank God for the good things even when you’re surrounded by the bad.

You had a horrible day and on top of that, your tire is flat.

“God, I thank you for a car that can have flat tires.”

You had a horrible day and nothing is going right.

“God, I thank you for being alive to see this day. For giving me trials that teach and sustain me so that I can be prepared for my next.”

Gratitude in the hardest of places will change your entire life.

I heard recently in a sermon by Dharius Daniels that we as Christians tend to forget that the enemy comes not to just kill, but also to steal. He wants your gratitude, your joy, your hope and your faith. Sometimes in our toughest trials if he can just take that, he’s done everything he’s set out to accomplish. Can you try in the roughest of times to be aware of what exactly the enemy is trying to steal? Can you reach deep down inside and gather the strength to snatch whatever that is, right back? I believe you can.

Gratitude will change your perspective and when your perspective changes, it has the power to lift you out of the pit and directly into your palace.

For the next 10 days, discover the power of Gratitude in your life. For every situation, be consciously aware of your words and thoughts. Thank God for the situation and the lessons, whether they are good or bad.

Watch how gratitude will begin to transform and change your entire life.