Gratitude. It is a concept that is frequently overlooked in Christian circles. Believers hear a good deal about joy and the importance of returning thanks to God for all His many blessings. But there is a difference between saying thank you to God and actually being grateful to God. Gratitude is much more than that. Gratitude is a lifestyle.
As such, gratitude is not a temporary emotion. It is not a feeling that pops into our hearts because God gave us something we wanted or because our prayers were answered in a manner that we had hoped. Instead, gratitude is about being grateful to God for all He has done to save us, reach us, and build a relationship with us. Gratitude recognizes the immense sacrifice God made through Jesus' death on the cross. As a result, a believer is filled with the deep and continuous desire to honor God and serve Him in any way possible.
But not only does gratitude glorify God, it serves as a positive force in the life of the believer. It stops us from focusing on the negatives in our lives. Gratitude helps us avoid a lifestyle of complaining and worrying. And it keeps us from growing prickly, sour, or bitter over time, particularly when life has not turned out the way we expected.
In the end, the believer that choses a lifestyle of gratitude enjoys a deep relationship with God, experiences a life full of joy, and has the privilege of being a breath of fresh air wherever he goes.
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