5 Easy Ways to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
Once upon a time, a girl named Lyli got out of bed grumpy and decided she deserved to have a bad attitude for just one day. Instead of giggling with her grandson as he played, she grumbled and complained about dysfunctional people and crazy circumstances out of her control. Anywhere she went, her frowny face cast a shadow over everyone she loved. For one sad day, she sowed seeds of discontent and doubt. Because she foolishly forgot to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, she reaped the fruit of bitterness.
Have you had a dark day recently? Yeah, me too. I woke up crabby, and I decided to sulk all day. Not pretty.
Focusing on what we don’t have or can’t have never produces anything beautiful in our lives. If I am wondering why things keep slipping out of my hands, I fail to see the wonder in the small gifts of grace God has given me.
I don’t find joy in my husband’s embrace because I am letting my unreasonable expectations suck all the life out of me.
I fail to miss those sweet moments of playing peekaboo with my grandson because I am thinking about cleaning up a mess. (And I am not talking about toys. This kind of mess requires supernatural intervention.)
I don’t take time to slow down and listen to the Lord and savor my friendships. Instead, I keep seeking to satisfy my empty soul with unhealthy stuff that makes me forget God has already given me everything I need.
Some days, I forget how blessed I really am.
I am set free from sin and death. Salvation is sweet.
I’ve been fully forgiven. I have tasted and seen that God is good.
I am filled with the peace of God. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.
What am I complaining about?
When I fail to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, I forget my God is faithful.
If you feel like you are in a spiritual funk, and you need a swift kick in the pants to get back on track with God, you are not alone. The easiest way to start walking out of the fog and into the Light is to “faith it until you feel it.” Every day, we can do small things to stir up our hearts and fight against spiritual lethargy.
Let’s begin by taking simple steps to remember God is good, and we have 10,000 reasons to be grateful.
5 Easy Ways to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
Create a list of 3 reasons to say thank You every day.
Notice the little things, and don’t let the wonder of life pass you by. We are prone to take for granted the sacred joy of simple moments, but every day is a sweet gift from God. Start a daily habit of looking for God’s extraordinary grace at work in your every day ordinary.
“Through Jesus, then, let us keep offering to God our own sacrifice, the praise of lips that confess His name without ceasing.” (Hebrews 13:15, Voice
Counter negative thinking by singing God’s praises.
Combat fear, doubt and ingratitude by opening your mouth and rehearsing the truth. On days when your faith is waning, worship music can refill your empty tank and refresh your spirit. Put your favorite songs into a Thanksgiving playlist to help you regularly raise a hallelujah.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to Him with my song.” (Psalm 28:7, CSB)
Bonus: I created a “Thank You, Jesus” playlist for us on Spotify.
Construct an altar of remembrance
A couple of years ago, my pastor handed us all a rock and a sharpie. He told us to look back over the year and think about the greatest blessing God had granted us for that year, and then to write it down as an Ebenezer stone of remembrance. Bruce and I were so touched by the experience that we decided to go back and do one for each year of our marriage, and moving forward we plan to do this every year as a family tradition. Looking at our rocks helps us remember God is faithful.
Choose to read a book full of wise counsel.
Recalibrate your thinking by pouring over the pages of Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. This sweet book is packed full of Scriptural wisdom and practical advice on how to live with a thankful disposition.
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Count your blessings from A to Z.
Grab your favorite pen, a piece of paper, and brainstorm a list of 26 reasons to be thankful. Bruce and I put together a list every November and share it with each other on Thanksgiving morning.
To help you get started, I’ve created a one-page printable for you to count your blessings from A to Z this month. Download a copy and grab a cup of tea. Then, find a quiet spot to sit down for a spell to reflect on how God has shown up for you in unexpected ways this past year. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
Bonus: I’m also going to count my blessings from A to Z on my Instagram and Facebook for the first 26 days in November, and I’d love for you to join me there and share yours.
When we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, our perspective changes. Instead of seeing looking back at what we are missing, we stand resolute with eyes forward on eternity. We have the hope of heaven, and one day very soon we will see Jesus face to face. Taking a few minutes each day to remember God is faithful will fill us with joy that will spill out to everyone we meet.
Let’s look forward to the day when we will bow at our Savor’s feet and cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Remember this world is not your home, and God is not finished yet. He fills our lives with good things, and His promises never fail.
The best way to greet a bad day is to get busy cultivating an attitude of gratitude.
The best way to greet a bad day is to get busy cultivating an attitude of gratitude.
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Let’s chat: What is one step you can take this week to cultivate an attitude of gratitude?
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