Gratitude does not come off easy until we have learnt it's art gratitude and it becomes part of our daily lives. Sometimes if not in most cases, life takes through difficult roads just to teach us the art of gratitude.
I have come to realize that the art of gratitude has taken me through so many difficult times than I can count. I have been though worst times in my life but in all these, when I sit down to reflect on God's goodness upon my life, I see reasons why I should express gratitude.
The simple fact that I am alive, seeing each day unfold and hopeful of better days ahead is more than enough reason to be grateful to God for.
Gratitude is at the heart of living a happy and fulfilling life. When we take out time irrespective of what we may be going through or experiencing to express gratitude for the things we have and where we are, we attract more goodness, abundance and find reasons to keep on keeping on in life.
Developing the art of gratitude in your every day life can bring tremendous benefits into your life emotionally, physically and mentally. It helps to reduce stress, keeps you hopeful and brings joy unspeakable into your life.
So then, WHAT IS GRATITUDE?
Gratitude is expressing appreciation for the things you have in life such as your job, friends, family, sound health, sound appetite, the gift of life and even experiences (good or bad) that have changed our outlook or perspective in life bringing us joy. The art of gratitude provokes a positive life style and keeps us optimistic irrespective of the circumstance.
THE ART OF GRATITUDE
Few days back, while in the bathroom having a shower, I reflected on my life, and I simply whispered to myself saying I love the life I live and how I live this life God has given to me - this is gratitude.
I may not have it all or be where I have always desired to be at the moment, but am grateful to God for my life, how far he has brought me and how he has enabled me to live the life I live.
To be able to find feelings of gratitude everyday of our lives, it's to take moments to pause and reflect on how God has been good to us daily, He daily loads us with benefits (Psalm 68:19) the we can see, feel and touch.
Everywhere around us in every day is God's overwhelming goodness, mercy, grace and favor he bestows on us daily.
Every day we wake up, is a reason to be grateful. The gift of life, sound health, sound appetite, having jobs or businesses to get to to, the gift of family, friends and loved ones are reasons to be grateful for.
Things may not be going as planned or as expected, but trust me, when you pause for a moment amidst the turbulent times to reflect , you would see, you have much more reasons to be grateful to God for than that one thing you are aspiring to reach or get to that is keeping you worried.
The art of gratitude is being grateful to God and to people around us for the good things life gives to us everyday. We are daily surrounded with good things if we just pause and feel the moment.
When we learn to develop the art of gratitude everyday towards God and man, we live a happier and healthier life emotionally, physically, mentally and otherwise.
THE BEAUTY OF GRATITUDE
While we may see the art of gratitude as just mere words to say, it's beauty in our lives far outweigh mere words. Below are some pointers to the beauty of the art of gratitude.
1. Each time we express gratitude, we give God glory for his goodness. We realize it is not by our own making that we have all that we have, be where we are today or have come out from every bad experience better and stronger but from God the giver of all good things and the enabler of our strength though his grace to surmount every difficulty and challenges.
"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." - Psalm 69:30
2. Gratitude helps us see God more. It helps us see God working in and for us every time we go though turbulent times. With gratitude, we feel God's presence with us every time of the day, we feel his care and love. This keeps us hopeful that everything is working out for our good.
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights." - James 1:16-17
3. Gratitude keeps us at peace from within despite the negative situations around us. When we begin to count our blessings instead of wallowing away in worries and anxieties, we stay at peace with ourselves. Each time we are grateful to God for all the good things we have and the experiences we may have gone through, he give us peace that passes all understanding.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God , which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7.
4. Gratitude keeps us contented with what we have and where we are at the moment while trusting God to take us to greater heights. Gratitude makes it seem like we have enough even when in reality we do not have. Gratitude is key to living a life of contentment
...godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and neither can we carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these."- 1 Timothy 6:6-8
5. Gratitude enables us live in the moment without worrying about what the future holds or dwelling in past. With gratitude we see every day as gift and enjoy the beauty each day brings to our lives.
"Say not,"Why were the former days better than these?" for it is not from wisdom that you ask this". - Ecclesiastes 7:10
6. Our faith grows much stronger and better with the art of gratitude. Gratitude helps us see that things will get better irrespective of the circumstance we are in. When we are grateful for how far God has brought us and has delivered us severally from many unpleasant situations, our faith in him increases because we know that, if he did it before, he will do it again.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever." - Psalm 136:1
Quote for the day - "The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude." - Frederick Nietzsche
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