Gratitude

Gratitude is having a great attitude in all circumstances. It is refusing to be small when the times are hard. It is the ability to see the cup half full rather than half empty. It is giving God praise when your flesh says otherwise. It is magnifying God and minimizing problems. After all, God is eternal, challenges are not. Luke 17:12-19.

Many of us see the need to pray but don’t see the need to praise. We do not understand the importance of praise in the spiritual world. Life is controlled by a gate. “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it”. Matthew 7:13-14. This life gate opens to praise because praise is a gate opener. You “enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! ….” Psalm 100:4a. Anytime you want to approach God, remember that praise is a gate lifter to God’s presence.

There is an important secret the Devil does not want believers to understand. In the Old Testament times, whoever controls the gate controls the city. This is because the gate of the enemy is its control center. Just as praise is a gate lifter into God’s presence, you can use praise to control the gates of your enemies. Genesis 24:60. When you gain access to the Lord by praise the same can bring God down to your situation. Such was the case with Paul and Silas who worshipped God at midnight and experienced a great deliverance.

Contentment
One of the reasons we are often ungrateful is discontentment. If you are not content with less you will never be content with more. There are many who live in a world of “If onlys.” If only I had this.... If only this were different.... If only I could do that.... If only this had not happened in my life....Apostle Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11).

Don’t postpone joyfulness until your situation changes, or you have acquired a certain thing. If you cannot be joyful now you will not be joyful then, for joy is not a matter of what you have, or what situation you are in. It is a matter of who you are and how you respond to life.

I am really content — until I start looking through the Costco catalogue. I liked my car — until I saw the new Mercedes Benz. I am satisfied with my clothes — until I stroll through Macy’s. I love our home — until I think of what it would be like to own a log cabin on the shore of some remote lake. I am satisfied with every area of my life — until I start comparing with someone else’s life. I feel like I have enough of everything — until I see someone who has more.

Contentment comes from God. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Notice that it does not say “Prosperity with contentment is great gain.” Contentment comes from seeking God, not things. Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). If you are not happy with what you have, why do you want more of that which cannot satisfy? “Keep your lives free from the love of money and are content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). Your contentment comes from God, not things.

If we seek God the way we seek after other things many of our problems would disappear. It is our relationship with God which is the source of contentment, and nothing else can take his place. The Bible says, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
One of the secrets of contentment is to seek God’s face, not just His Hands. Seek Him, not His gifts. Run after God, not just His goodies. The Psalmist, when thinking of heaven, said, “I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15).

I really appreciated how much I’m blessed the other day when I listed what I have. Below are my assets:
A gracious God
A wonderful wife
A flourishing family
Abundant life (Eternally and materially I am filthy rich compared to the rest of the world.)
A meaningful vocation
Friends
Today (Ps 118:24).
Opportunities to grow in grace, knowledge, and experience

An attitude of gratitude is an act of faith. It means you are unafraid to live and be happy because you have faith in a God who cares for you and provides for you. He is faithful and his promises are true. He never fails. Dare to be grateful at all times.