An Attitude of Gratitude

100,000 heartbeats in a day

Little reminders to give You praise

20,000 breaths keep us alive

I'm not sure where I saw it, but there was a meme that said, "the human heart beats over 100,000 times each day." That number seemed astounding and unbelievable to me, so I looked it up, and, if you look at the average heart rate, it's true! The heart expands and contracts over 100,000 times in a 24-hour period, pumping blood through our bodies. This small, yet strong muscle, plays a vital role in keeping us alive. And, most times, we don't even think about what a blessing there is in each beat.

This got me curious. So, I wanted to research another subconscious effort of the body: breathing. We breathe, inhaling and exhaling, approximately 20,000 times a day. Each breath provides oxygen that enables our bodies to carry out some of their most vital functions, providing energy, immunity and cognitive clarity. Again, because, for most of us, it happens without effort, we might overlook the blessing of each breath.

One hundred thousand is a number that is difficult to fathom; twenty thousand is a little easier, but both numbers are a lot. If one of those heartbeats or breaths doesn't happen, it affects our ability to live.

The fact that God, Creator and Designer of all the universe, made us so intricately complex is reason enough to give Him praise. Every single heartbeat is a reminder of how much He cares for us. (Psalm 8:4).

If we truly take note of what God does for us every second of every minute of every day, we should be absolutely amazed. And when we are amazed, that should lead to praise. We need to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. We can start by being grateful for the grace God gives us in the seemingly simple, yet extremely complex inner workings of our bodies.

God took His time to fearfully and wonderfully make us (Psalm 139:13-18). Moreover, He takes care of us each moment of our lives. So, we should take the time to recognize His love and care, by praising Him for Who He is and all He does.

Father God,

You intricately knit us together, and You bless us with a beating heart and breathing lungs. May we use every day that you allow those 100,000 heartbeats and 20,000 breaths to serve You and to give You all the praise and honor You deserve. In the Wonderful Name of Jesus, Amen!