Gratitude First

I had a good conversation with some old friends Monday night and one of the things I brought up was we need to be intentional.

Welp, I read this last night and it bears repeating. "We don't need to see things differently to be grateful; rather, we must be grateful to see things differently."

Wow, I need to read that again. You see, God turns our gratitude into goodness, adds peace to our pain, and provides strength in our struggles. Gratitude is nothing more than the act of giving thanks before we might feel like it. Intentional gratitude.

Whether we're fighting addiction, enduring cancer treatments, or overwhelmed with a frustrating work situation, gratitude is hard. But it is possible. Practicing gratitude is an intentional act of faith, saying yes to God's command and will for our lives.

I'm not going to act like I don't struggle with this sometimes. I still struggle now. But it's something that's important and we all need to live with gratitude first.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Be Nice. Grace Wins.

FMJ