The Ungratefulness Block

It was snowing as I sat by the window with a cup of coffee in hand and whispered a prayer of gratitude for this beautiful scene I was witnessing. Snow was still a relatively new experience to me as I had grown up in the Caribbean. My mind wandered back over the memories of the series of events that had to take place for me to be here in this moment. I thanked God for all those little things that added to my life-changing relocation. A half-hour later, I was smiling, and my heart was light. I realized that what started as appreciation had moved from one expression of gratitude to another. I felt joy and peace in a new way.

I learned in that half hour that we could welcome joy into our lives by opening our mouths to thank God for the myriad ways He takes care of us. It must bring pleasure to our Father when we are thankful for things we are prone to take for granted.

There's a story in the New Testament where Jesus heals ten lepers. The men are so excited and go exuberantly into their lives as healed men. Only one of them comes back to thank Jesus. Jesus looks around for the other nine and asks where they are.

“Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?” (Luke 17:15-17).

Jesus then gives him an added blessing that the other men did not receive. “And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19)

Whatever our circumstances are, there's always something for us to be grateful to God for. Our vocal expressions of gratitude to Him for who He is and all that He does and will do for us, are the supernatural equivalent of clearing a road after a storm so that traffic can flow freely. Faithfully exercising our built-in gratitude muscle removes a block to the flow of joy in our lives.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for the ways You’ve blessed me. I have big blessings and small ones that have come from Your hand, from Your goodness to me. Thank You for walking with me even when I don't acknowledge You. Thank You for providing for and protecting me. Thank You for doing the things I don't know You've done and for keeping me from things I don't know You've saved me from, all for my good. Thank You for Your goodness and mercy. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.