The Gratitude Shift - Embracing Six Gifts You Already HaveSample

Day I: Introduction

Sometimes, when I look at what someone else has that I don’t have, my heart reacts effortlessly with envy. Instead of gratitude bursting from me for the things God has graciously given me, I get angry because I start to believe there are things He has withheld from me.

This plan wants to help us take our eyes off others, count our blessings, and start genuinely being thankful to God. Even on our worst days, we have much to be thankful for. Jesus said, "God causes the sun to rise on the just and the unjust and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." At all times, we are beneficiaries of His goodness. When we acknowledge that, we can make the gratitude shift to embracing not just the six gifts listed in this plan but also the many areas in which God has blessed us.

Over the next few days, we will look at six gifts we have already received from God. We will see how blessed we are and that we have much to thank Him for. Each day's reading includes a prayer as a starting point for expressing gratitude to God and asking Him to help us be more grateful.

Prayer:

Father, I ask You to search my heart as I go through this plan about gratitude. I pray for a new perspective on Your goodness and an understanding of how blessed I already am. Lord, please renew my mind in this area and forgive me for where I've thought myself more than I am. You have asked us to give You thanks always and to praise Your Name. I want to lay down envy and pick up gratitude. I thank You for the sun that shines, the rain that falls, and all the other ways You've already blessed me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.