So how did you do? Have you found practical ways to implement everyday gratitude in your life? If you missed the first five tips, check them out in part 1…

For review, the first five tips for everyday gratitude are:

1. Be in the moment.
2. Be specifically grateful.
3. Stop comparing.
4. Be friendly.
5. Stop complaining.

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.   Matt 18: 21-22

Nearly every time we are instructed to forgive, it comes along with a gentle reminder that we are greatly forgiven. Before we make an offering we are to forgive. Before we praise we are to forgive. And not just once. We are told to forgive the same offense over and over and over. Lest you think God doesn’t do the same for you, remind yourself of the things you struggle with and how many times you have made the same mistake. Over and over and over God forgives us. You do the same. And in all the forgiving you practice, don’t forget to include yourself. God has forgiven you, who are you not to forgive yourself?

“Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.     Job 37:4

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”      Exodus 14:14

We are busy all year long. The new year is busy. Then it’s Easter. Then it’s summer. Then school starts again and the next thing you know it’s Christmas. Busyness is not a new thing for the children of God. It was just different then. God knew we would be busy – too busy to be still. Yet stillness is when you listen. It is in the stillness when God talks to you. It is in the stillness when you meditate — that’s what is means to consider the wondrous works of God.

I am especially fond to the verse in Exodus. After all, isn’t it when we are in the most distress when we try to handle things on our own and in our own strength. It’s usually when we make the biggest messes. The Lord will fight for you, just be still, be silent. Watch Him work.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.      Matthew 10:29

Years ago there was a popular self-help/inspirational book titled “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”. Around the same time another book came out called “God is in the Small Stuff.” While, I never read either of these books, the titles speak volumes.

God cares for the sparrows. He cares for and adorns the flowers of the field. He knows the number of hairs on your head. If these are not the small things, I don’t know what is. These are part of the small miracles. It may seem silly to take note of the discount you got on the pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing. If God cares about the number of hairs on your head, if He knows the desires of your heart, if He cares when you stand or sit, don’t you think He cares about the shoes on your feet? The small miracles include when you spouse doesn’t get upset about something as usual because you’ve been praying. These are the small miracles of which to be grateful.

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.      Psalm 66:16

We overcome (the hard stuff) by the Blood of Jesus Christ and the word of our testimony. We are supposed to talk about what God has done for us. Granted some of it is personal and we are not anxious to broadcast it, but write it down. Write it down to remind you about it. Write it down so when you are ready to share, you remember all that God has done for your soul. Write it down to share with the next generations. How else would we know of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

Pray without ceasing     1 Thessalonians 5:17

Listen, if you can worry without ceasing you can pray without ceasing. If you can complain endlessly, you can pray endlessly. It is just that simple. When you find yourself worrying – PRAY. When you find yourself complaining, grumbling, or being frustrated – PRAY. When you find yourself happy and content – PRAY.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; …    Psalm 136:1-26

Admittedly, there are times when it feels super hard to praise. It feels like one of the most difficult things to do when you are in the middle of turmoil. Psalm 136 goes over reason after reason we should give thanks and praise. But, it boils down to one everlasting, unchangeable immovable truth – His steadfast love endures forever.

When there is no other reason to praise you count on this one thing – God’s love endures. No thing present, past or future can separate you from the love of God. No thing created, no thing under the sun will ever change the steadfast love of God.

In your practice of gratitude, don’t try to tackle all 11 tips. Start with just one or two and practice them for a month. Observe the way every day gratitude can impact your life, your attitude and your heart.