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.

Sometimes proverbs and platitudes can be helpful. For example, even a fool seems wise when he keeps his mouth shut. It’s pretty straightforward. Keep quiet and you will seem wise. But in this month of thanksgiving, there are so many cute little sayings about gratitude:

“Have an attitude of gratitude.”
“Start each day with a grateful heart.”
“Practice gratitude.”

or simply

Be grateful.

Whenever I hear things like this, I immediately think, “But, how?” I want practical steps on how to practice gratitude in my life. I realize it is important and I know there are times when a little gratitude for the situation I am in would go a long way. Job understood this when he said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21).”

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;                                                                                      James 1:19

We have all heard this verse and think it’s about keeping your temper. But I think there is more to learn here. If you are quick to hear it means you are listening. If you are slow to speak it means you are thinking about what to say. You can’t be a quick listener and a slow speaker if you are not in the moment.

Being in the moment is about not worrying about tomorrow or even the next moment. It is about staying present with the people you are with. When you are present and in the moment, that is when you are able to see and recognize things to be grateful about.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.      Psalm 96:11-12

Over and over in Psalms and Proverbs we see how the praise is specific. In the gospels we learn God is concerned about the details. He notices the sparrow. He decorates the flowers of the field. When we practice being thankful we need to be specific. Not only does it help us realize how much we have to be thankful for, it’s also the way it’s done in the Bible.

There are times when I get aggravated with my husband. In those moments, I make a decision to be grateful. Instead of just saying, “Lord, thank you for my husband,” I start listing the things about his character I find so unique and for which I am grateful. This whole conversation takes place in my head. And, honestly, every time I do it, my attitude changes.

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

 1 Corinthians 12:20

It is so easy to get into a place when you compare yourself to someone else. We tend to measure our success against another. We even compare the amount of stuff we have to someone else’s stuff. This is not a godly way of living.

You were intricately knitted together by God. He knew you specifically before you were even born (Psalm 139). To compare yourself or your life to another is to minimize the unique care and plan God has for you. Every part of the body is needed and serves a purpose. If you must compare, use the word of God as your reference. If you must compare, consider the person you were before salvation to the person you are now. These types of comparisons will naturally lead you to gratitude for all God has done for you.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.   Ecclesiastes 4:9

We are not meant to do this life alone. It’s why God created Eve. He needed a friend. You are not alone. In the struggles of daily life it is good to have a friend who can help you find your gratitude. In real life, times will be hard, you will need support. Being friendly also helps you get friends to experience your journey with you.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.     Ephesians 4:29

Complaining is absolutely corrupt talk. It does not build you up. It does not build anyone else around you up. It is not grace filled speech for those who can hear it. So, stop doing it. Just keep your mouth shut. Instead, start thinking about how and what you could be specifically thankful. Take that thing you want to complain about and find something, even if it’s small, for which to be grateful.

Gratitude is an everyday practice. Never stop praying. Never stop praising. Be grateful in all things.

Learn the rest in part 2…

Gratitude is a biblical principle that involves more than thankfulness. The practice of gratefulness yields joy, hope and wholeness. Let’s take a look at an example from the bible:

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”      Luke 17: 11-19

This portion of scripture, at first glance, doesn’t seem to be about gratitude, yet, at closer look, it is gratitude that makes the leper whole.

Lepers were not allowed to be close the rest of the population. In these verses, leprosy refers to any condition of the skin. I imagine it could have been anything that could be seen by the human eye to affect the skin.

All of this population were outcasts. They were poor. They were disenfranchised. They were considered and treated as less than human.  From a distance they shouted for mercy. They wanted to be healed.

Despite the blessings He may bestow on us, God always requires us to take action.

In this scripture the action taken by Jesus was very simple. He required no dipping or dunking (John 9:7). He didn’t tell them to get up or take their beds (John 5:8). Jesus didn’t even spit in the dirt (John 9:6). Jesus sent them on their way to be examined and approved by the priests so they could return to society. Jesus told them to go. In order to be healed they had to GO to the priests so the healing could be validated and they could enter the community again.

The scripture says as they went they were cleansed. They were made clean from the skin diseases that afflicted them. It was a big deal. As they walked their skin cleared. It was made fresh and clean and new. Their simple action was to walk to the priests. Jesus had mercy. He instructed them to go. They went. They were healed. He required nothing more from them.

Jesus Has More to Give Us Than Clear Skin

One of the men returned to thank Jesus. He was a Samaritan. The Samaritans and Jews were at odds. Jewish people saw the Samaritans as outsiders. They were not truly included in Jewish society. Because of this Samaritans were careful to keep their space.   Yet, this man, in his gratitude approached a man who is known to be a Jewish Rabbi. This man, in his gratitude, ignored what he was “supposed” to do. He was motivated by a heart overwhelmed with thankfulness.

Jesus again gave attention to this man. See, in these verses the man was healed from the sickness which afflicted him. He was healed physically. His body was restored to health. The last few lines of what Jesus says reveals the impact a grateful heart can have on a situation.

Jesus points out that this man is the only one who returned to praise God. I don’t think it’s because Jesus is shocked, offended or even surprised. Personally, I think it’s because Jesus had so much more to give these outcasts than just clear skin. The Samaritan’s act of gratitude by returning to praise God brought him complete wholeness.

The man’s act of gratitude is what made him well.  Jesus said, “your faith has made you well.” The healed man’s recognition and gratitude of the grace and power of Jesus made him whole. Not just healed but whole, and complete.

It’s important to recognize Jesus still healed the afflicted who didn’t return to praise God for their healing. He didn’t withdraw that miracle from them. But the man who praised God, the man who was thankful was made whole. I imagine he was filled with joy and danced away telling everyone what Jesus did for him.

How much more will our hearts be healed and filled when we offer thanksgiving prayers to God?