We live in a negative-oriented world. I don’t know if it’s the result of years of advertising which has created a pervasive sense dissatisfaction in our lives so that we will buy their products or not. Maybe it’s due to the powerful influence of the media which constantly criticizes everyone and everything which has seeped into our consciousness. Maybe it’s the fact that, as a result of our fallen, sinful nature, we are prone to being critical. Negative. Fault-finding. The problem with all this negativity is that it suppresses thankfulness. It causes us to focus more on what’s wrong than on what’s right. More on what we don’t have than on what we do have. The irony of all this is that we live in perhaps the most affluent society in the history of the world! That says something about the inability of things to make us happy and thankful, doesn’t it?
The truth is that anyone can be negative. Complaining. Ungrateful. These come naturally. Like weeds that grow in a garden. It takes a special kind of person to be thankful. The reason why is that thankfulness needs to be sought after. Cultivated. Nurtured. Thankfulness chooses to look past the bad and find the good in a situation. And in others. It chooses to see the glass as being half-full instead of half-empty.
How do we cultivate a thankful spirit? With God’s help. First, we need to incorporate thankfulness into our everyday prayers. In the midst of all our prayers for strength, wisdom and help in our daily lives we need to return thanks for all the good things we have as well. Food. Clothing. Shelter. Vehicles. Health. Family. Friends. Freedom. Salvation. Second, we need to memorize Bible verses related to thankfulness. Such as I Thessalonians 5:17 - “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Or Colossians 3:15 - “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Third, we need to guard our intake of negativity. We need to be much more selective of the news that we watch. The articles that we read. Of the people that we associate with. A constant influx of negativity is bound to affect us. We need to substitute this with good news. Uplifting and inspirational articles. By associating with people who are upbeat. Positive. Cheerful. People who radiate the love of Jesus.
I was listening to a sermon by Pastor James MacDonald recently in which he said the following. “An attitude of gratitude will give you altitude.” Isn’t that so true? If we will maintain a thankful spirit it will help us to live above the chaos, strife and negativity of our world. Isn’t this what we really want? I think it is. It is also what God wants for us.
Lord, I live in the midst of a negative culture. A complaining culture. An ungrateful culture. Help me to not follow the crowd in this. Help me instead to cultivate a thankful spirit. A spirit of gratefulness. Cheerfulness. A spirit that willingly and joyfully gives thanks to You for all that You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The truth is that anyone can be negative. Complaining. Ungrateful. These come naturally. Like weeds that grow in a garden. It takes a special kind of person to be thankful. The reason why is that thankfulness needs to be sought after. Cultivated. Nurtured. Thankfulness chooses to look past the bad and find the good in a situation. And in others. It chooses to see the glass as being half-full instead of half-empty.
How do we cultivate a thankful spirit? With God’s help. First, we need to incorporate thankfulness into our everyday prayers. In the midst of all our prayers for strength, wisdom and help in our daily lives we need to return thanks for all the good things we have as well. Food. Clothing. Shelter. Vehicles. Health. Family. Friends. Freedom. Salvation. Second, we need to memorize Bible verses related to thankfulness. Such as I Thessalonians 5:17 - “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Or Colossians 3:15 - “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Third, we need to guard our intake of negativity. We need to be much more selective of the news that we watch. The articles that we read. Of the people that we associate with. A constant influx of negativity is bound to affect us. We need to substitute this with good news. Uplifting and inspirational articles. By associating with people who are upbeat. Positive. Cheerful. People who radiate the love of Jesus.
I was listening to a sermon by Pastor James MacDonald recently in which he said the following. “An attitude of gratitude will give you altitude.” Isn’t that so true? If we will maintain a thankful spirit it will help us to live above the chaos, strife and negativity of our world. Isn’t this what we really want? I think it is. It is also what God wants for us.
Lord, I live in the midst of a negative culture. A complaining culture. An ungrateful culture. Help me to not follow the crowd in this. Help me instead to cultivate a thankful spirit. A spirit of gratefulness. Cheerfulness. A spirit that willingly and joyfully gives thanks to You for all that You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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