Cultivating Gratitude

From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord; I've never kept secret what you're up to. You've always been great toward me — what love! You snatched me from the brink of disaster!   Ps 86:12-13 The Message

Celebrating Thanksgiving not only makes us full, as we stuff ourselves at the dinner table, it also makes us healthier.

Recent studies show that holding on to feelings of thankfulness boosts our immune system and increases blood supply to our heart. People who describe themselves as feeling grateful tend to suffer less stress and depression than the rest of the population.

For all its benefits, gratitude doesn’t always come naturally to us. As Jesus passed through a village one day, (in Luke 17) he was spotted by ten lepers who desperately longed to be healed. They kept themselves at a distance as required by law but cried out to him, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Instead of instantly healing the men, Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest. As the ten lepers walked off to obey, their skin disease disappeared.

One of the men turned around, shouting praises to God as he came back to Jesus. He threw himself at his healer’s feet. Jesus expressed amazement that only one man had thought to thank him. “Were not all ten cleansed?” he asked. “Where are the other nine?”

Cultivating a spirit of thankfulness is more than a good idea; it’s a direct command from God. In the Old Testament, God laid down specific guidelines for the Israelites to bring thank offerings. In the New Testament, believers are instructed to be thankful in all circumstances.

When we’re struggling with difficulties, this sounds like a hard command, especially since we live in a culture that encourages us to act on the basis of how we feel. But God knows that when we focus on our blessings, it’s easier to keep our problems and concerns in the right perspective.

Even though he experienced disappointment, pain, and heartache, King David often poured out his feelings of thankfulness to his Creator and Lord. That gratitude became the foundation of his worship of God.

Cultivating a spirit of gratitude honors God and strengthens our faith. It also strengthens our relationships with other people. We can’t be in a right relationship with God or anyone else for that matter without a spirit of thankfulness.



Declaration to Life: I will give thanks to my God. No matter what problems I’m struggling with, I refuse to be like the nine former lepers who forgot to say “thank you” to their Healer.