Never underestimate the power of appreciation for what you’ve been given. The moment you begin to lose a sense of gratitude, your perspective on life will become distorted and your motives will become entangled in a web of selfishness.
The problem of ingratitude began with our first parents, Adam and Eve. We tend to think Satan tempted them to do something diabolical in the garden of Eden. But when we look at Genesis chapter three, we see a different scenario.
The devil took a subtle approach to introduce sin to the world: he undermined Adam and Eve’s confidence in the character of God by tempting them to be ungrateful for all they’d been given and to plant seeds of doubt about God’s goodness.
And it worked.
In one conversation, the fate of the world changed. Adam and Eve forgot what God had given them – life and breath, a world filled with mind-blowing beauty, and most importantly, free access to Him in a loving relationship. Instead, they allowed ingratitude to seep into their hearts. They allowed doubt to fuel fear and selfish desires to choke out a spirit of worship.
Gratitude is a spiritual measuring stick. It’s a sign of an individual whose heart is tethered to God and whose perspectives are rightly ordered. Gratitude creates a Philippians 4:8 perspective that looks for the true, the noble, the right, the pure, the lovely, the admirable, and the excellent.
When you experience a sense of gratitude, it means that you have been thinking about the good stuff in your life, such as your family, friends, health, and recent accomplishments. When you feel ungrateful, it does not necessarily mean that you are missing something essential. What it does mean is that you’ve recently been thinking too much about what you don’t have and too little about what you do have.
Appreciating our blessings doesn’t always come easily. Gratitude isn’t just a state of mind; it’s also a skill and discipline to be practiced, especially when we don’t feel like it. Gratitude is like a mental gearshift that takes us from discouragement to enthusiasm, from anxiety to inner peace.
The more you appreciate today, the more things you will notice tomorrow to be grateful for. On the flip side, the less appreciative you are today, the fewer blessings you will perceive tomorrow. The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.”
The power of gratitude is undeniably immense. As you learn to appreciate what you have, (and what you’re glad you don’t have), thanksgiving becomes a natural expression of your life.
Make everyday Thanksgiving Day!
Thank you for the reminder 💗. Truly appreciate your words. Thanksgiving is everyday!
How do you express gratitude in times of sadness and despair. For things that once were, that you have no control over losing?
The 4:8 Principle is by far my second favorite book. I have been reading it daily for years. I have shared with others how I found JOY by becoming a student of The 4:8 Principle. Joy is definitely intentional.
Had a tough year, a tough decade. Lost my wife, my parents, new wife divorced me, and my last child moved out with my dog and the cat ran away. I remained faithful seeking the Lord. My situation is the same, but at some point I accepted it, realized I have no power over life and death nor other people’s actions and choices. I just cast all my cares upon the Lord and quit worrying about it.
Guess what? My joy is returning! In fact, I rejoice in the Grace of God and in our Lord Jesus Christ who rescued me from the pit of destruction and set my feet back on The Rock. I was standing on it all along. He was always there! I just had to stop screaming in my soul (cease striving) and know that He is God!
If you should find yourself suffering this Thanksgiving…look down at your feet, You’re Standing on the Rock! Then, look up to the Heavens and thank God for the Rock! Sing a new song of praise and Thanksgiving to your Lord. No matter what befalls you, nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ. Nothing is ever too hard for Him. By any way, by any means, you will be restored!
If I have to cry out from the very pit of destruction, nothing, no power, no pain will steal my joy and thankfulness to our Lord!
Wherever you find yourself tomorrow, you’re standing on the Rock of Christ! The pit cannot take you! Rejoice and be thankful! For anything! For everything! Be joyful! Let nothing, no power in heaven or earth, separate you from the Joy of the Lord!
You’re loved, you matter, you have a future and hope, you’re a Child of The Most High! You’re Gold!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’ve studied the record of Adam and Eve in detail, but haven’t looked at it from the perspective of thankfulness…a great article!
The devil got Eve to doubt by first getting her to listen at all, then changing, adding to and omitting things God had said, ultimately negating His Word. If she’d stayed thankful for what she had she never would have considered what the devil had to offer.
Thank you for taking the time to write us at the great time of year! I’m thankful for all you do!