An Attitude of Gratitude
Sunday - November 1st
Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 5:15-20
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Ephesians 5:20
Today begins the annual month in which we will celebrate gratitude. On Thursday, November 26th, we will slow down to give thanks. Our tables might not be as full of friends and families this year as they were last year, but Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to extend our gratitude for the blessings in our lives. In our November Take5 daily devotionals, we will look at key Bible verses that help us gain a gratitude attitude.
In any formal or informal counseling I do with others, one of the ground rules I set has to do with two words - always and never. If a marriage is in trouble, words like "always" and "never" get weaponized. When folks need input on relationships, their marriage, or other interpersonal communication, these words do little to reduce the tension.
"You never take the time to notice what I am wearing."
"You always blame me for our problems."
"I will never forgive you."
These words build walls, not bridges. They don't help at all. After meeting with a couple about their marriage for the third time, the husband asked me a simple question. He was tired of my "always" and "never rules. He asked me if "always" ever applied to anything at all or was it "always" a weaponized word.
My answer was simple and straightforward, "Yes, definitely, Yes!" I shared with him that "always" is a word that goes so well with being grateful. After sharing Ephesians 5:20 with him, he agreed that it was a good perspective. "Always" fits the attitude of gratitude very well. It helps us keep perspective when we have lost our way - when being ungrateful would be so easy.
Pauls teaches us, "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). We are to be in a constant state of gratitude about everything. In today's world, that is not so easy. God knows it is good for us and those around us. An attitude that is always grateful for everything changes our fundamental outlook and spirit.
Commit to the journey of cultivating an attitude of gratitude by joining me every day in our November Take5 devotionals. Our world seems to give us a lot to grumble and complain about right now. Gratitude can liberate and free us. The key is "always" being grateful for "everything."
An attitude of gratitude goes a long way at helping us cope and thrive in a world full of life challenges!