Practice Gratitude

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. JAMES 1:17 NLT 

What will you be grateful for today? 

In its simplest form, gratitude is the ability to recognize and acknowledge the goodness in your life. It is being thankful for what you have and what you’ve experienced. It is an appreciation for all things, tangible and intangible. 

The truth is, you will have days when you simply want to have your bad day.  You want to sit in that space and have a personal pity party. Do it! I am not telling you to never be in a funk. In fact, I am telling you the opposite. I want you to sit in your funk and let all those negative emotions out. Just know this—you cannot stay there! You can have your moment and feel your emotions, and then you have to let them go. Because as long as you try to hold them in, there is no space for gratitude.  

  I know that even the most grateful person has moments when life becomes overwhelming and gratefulness goes out the window. So, when we practice gratitude, we train ourselves not to sit in the negative moments. We acknowledge them, we process them, and then we find our way back to the positive. 

Reflect on where you’ve been. Identify the moments over the years that changed you for the better. Give thanks for individuals who poured life  into you. 

God, although my life isn’t perfect, I give You thanks for all the goodness I’ve experienced in my life. Open my eyes today to see all the blessings You have given me. Amen.