Grateful

My gratitude is my gift to You

Gratitude is a heart posture.

When we look back and reflect on our lives, we can undoubtedly trace the hand and heart of God. In times of pain, He is our Comforter and Healer. In destruction, He is our Restorer. In chaos, He is our Prince of Peace. In failure, He is our Redeemer. In sorrow, He is our joy. In darkness, He is our Light.

He owes us nothing and gives us everything.

As we remember the faithfulness of our God, we can confidently trust Him with the path ahead, knowing that He has never left us and He will continue leading us forward. He knows the end from the beginning, and He exists outside of time. We don’t have to live in the bondage of fear from our past, and we don’t have to stay captive to fear of what lies ahead either. His perfect love casts out ALL fear and fills us with bold courage to face anything.

There has never been a moment or situation forbidden for Him. The same God who cleansed lepers, healed the sick, and raised the dead is the same One who shows Himself strong on our behalf. He is an extraordinary God who does extraordinary things on behalf of His people.

His goodness isn’t just evident in the seemingly sizable moments, it’s apparent in ordinary instances as well. Sometimes we overlook blessings hidden in our everyday lives - the laughter we hear, the parking spot that opens up, the sun shining or the friend who reaches out.

Every day is an opportunity to discover and thank God for His boundless blessings.

Gratitude is His will for our lives. “In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). If gratitude is not your natural propensity, don’t wait another day to ask God to change that. Pray for Him to cultivate a gratitude-filled heart within you and to help you see His hand and heart in all things. As you do this, you’ll find that there are not enough pages to write all the ways He is faithful, good, kind and loving toward you.

Thank Him for every season that ends and for every new one. Thank Him for every door that He opens and for every one that closes. Thank Him for every time He has given His yes and for all of the times He mercifully says no.

All He has ever done is proven that He is worthy of our gift of gratitude.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who has impacted your life and helped you to know God in a deeper way?
2. What are five things are you grateful for?
3. What are some blessings hidden in your everyday life?
4. How do you express gratitude to God?
5. What bright things has God spoken over your future?