March 27, 2006

Gratitude Attitude

Read Luke 17:11-19

One of the benefits of getting older is that you develop more perspective and are able to see the “big picture” in life. I have observed that those who live life with a “gratitude attitude” tend to be happier people who find blessings in everyday circumstances. These people are attuned to God’s goodness and grace and have hope for each day.

The story of the ten lepers as told in Luke illustrates some important lessons about faith and gratitude. Because lepers were ritually unclean they were required to live outside their village. If a leper thought his leprosy has gone into remission, he could go to the priest and if declared clean could return to his village. The ten lepers who saw Jesus had faith they could be healed and followed Jesus instructions to go to the priest even before their leprosy was actually healed. It is disturbing however; that only one, a Samaritan, a race despised by the Jews, returned to thank Jesus. Do we receive God’s gifts with ungrateful spirits? Do we fail to thank Him after we have asked for his favor? Do we recognize God’s blessings when they come? Are we more likely to go to God with a request than a response of praise?

You may remember the idea of a ‘gratitude journal’ Oprah Winfrey promoted a while back. It was somewhat of a commercialization of a non-commercial act but made an important point. When you consciously identify all you have to be grateful for, you realize how much you are truly blessed. As Christians do we take the next step and thank God or do we prepare new requests for more blessings? God has not demanded that we thank Him but he is pleased when we do so. When we acknowledge all we have is a gift from God, he gives us grace to grow in our faith, a positive perspective on life, and hope to face an unknown future.

Perhaps a gratitude journal would be helpful to you. Daily devotions are a great way to have a direct line to God. I try to thank God throughout the day for blessings great and small and have found when I have trouble sleeping, a mental gratitude journal soon puts me at rest. Expressing gratitude may initially require a conscious effort but with time it becomes a habit that gives us joy in developing a close personal relationship with God.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

Pat Deck