A Prayer to Hold a Grateful Coronary heart
By Lynette Kittle

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of 1 physique you have been known as to peace. And be grateful” – Colossians 3:15

Having a grateful coronary heart appears to be uncommon as of late and at a premium to seek out. Social media is full and overflowing with discontented hearts–hearts which can be indignant, dissatisfied, harm, grieving, and extra. Nonetheless, God calls us to be grateful. So the place and the way will we acquire gratefulness in such an ungrateful world?

Many people reside with an outlook of lack, seeing all of the issues they don’t have as a result of it’s a lot simpler to take a look at our glasses half-empty than half-full. Seeing our lives as missing leads us to imagine that if we solely have extra—extra of the issues we imagine we have to be joyful— our lives and our attitudes could be completely different. However it’s not true. Grateful hearts don’t come from proudly owning issues, holding positions, or having everybody love us. In an ever-changing world, there isn’t a assure of hanging onto earthly possessions, particularly within the shadow of pure disasters, wars, and extra. 

It’s As much as Us to Select
Whether or not we imagine it or not, particularly as Christians, it’s as much as us to decide on to concentrate on what God has so graciously given us moderately than what the world offers and takes away every day. Godly gratefulness isn’t depending on what we personal; but, God has given us a lot to be grateful for in life.

Colossians 3:17 encourages, “And no matter you do, whether or not in phrase or deed, do all of it within the title of the Lord Jesus, giving due to God the Father by way of Him.”

Even when now we have nothing to our names, now we have extremely legitimate causes to thank Him every day. Issues, positions, places, and extra don’t convey happiness; moderately, true gratitude comes from deep inside us.

Gratefulness as a Sacrifice
Sadly, life typically brings tragic losses of family members, houses, jobs, and extra, however nonetheless God calls us to be grateful. He is aware of our weaknesses and understands how it may be tough for us to take action after we’re dissatisfied, discouraged, struggling, or grieving. Though 1 Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” it doesn’t imply we thank God for the unhappy conditions, however thank Him within the midst of them.

Some believers are confused by this verse, pondering God expects us to thank Him for the unhappy and tragic conditions and losses that convey us disappointment, discouragement, struggling, and grief. However He’s not. God’s given us so many non secular blessings, not depending on our circumstances, that we are able to reward Him and provides Him thanks irrespective of our scenario. He’s compassionate and acknowledges this type of gratitude as a candy sacrifice to Him. Psalm 116:17 encourages our sacrificial thankfulness. “I’ll sacrifice a thank providing to You and name on the title of the Lord.” 

After we do, God responds, as recorded in Psalm 50:23. “Those that sacrifice thank choices honor Me, and to the innocent I’ll present My salvation.” In unsure occasions, God calls us to concentrate on Him and His faithfulness as a substitute of our conditions, to remind ourselves of His promise to by no means depart or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and to belief Him to assist us by way of every thing we face in life.

Let’s pray: 

Pricey Father,
Thanks for all Your non secular blessings You so lovingly and graciously bestow upon me. As Ephesians 1:3 states, “Reward be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us within the heavenly realms with each non secular blessing in Christ.” Strengthen and encourage me, Lord, to be grateful each day of my life for all You could have given to me. Assist me to concentrate on all Your advantages. Lead me to stay a lifetime of honest gratitude to You. Hold my coronary heart softened and set on in search of You. Educate me by way of Your Holy Spirit to stroll and stay each day of the 12 months, with a grateful coronary heart, not depending on my scenario and circumstances however primarily based on who You might be and what You’ve given Me by way of Jesus Christ, my Savior.
In Jesus’ title, Amen

Picture credit score: ©GettyImages/ksenija18kz

Lynette Kittle is married with 4 daughters. She enjoys writing about religion, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been printed by Deal with the Household, Resolution, At present’s Christian Lady, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and extra. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent College and serves as affiliate producer for Soul Test TV.

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