the power of thank you...

a friend recently told me that she admired my attitude with all that has transpired in my life recently...as humbled as i was to hear it...it so touched my heart...and on my view of the situation...i know there were moments where i had a lot of questions in my prayer time...

then...another friend called...who is going through a difficult time...and asked me how i do it...how i can remain pretty upbeat during some pretty traumatic and hard times...

this got me thinking...what is it that people are noticing in me? because believe me...i have my moments... =)

i think the one thing that has remained constant in my life...through good times and bad...is focusing on what i have...and in that...what i mean...is to acknowledge all the blessings i have been given...so really...we have two choices...focus on what you don't have & what you are going through...or...better yet...focusing on what you have been blessed with...and knowing that God is aware of your struggles...and circumstances...

there was a study done at the university of california that showed just how great it is to be grateful...the researchers found that grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions...more satisfaction with life...and more vitality and optimism....i don't know about you...but these are all good qualities i want more of in my life...they also found grateful people show lower levels of depression and stress...two things i’d like to experience less in my life...

what’s more...they found that people who keep journals about gratitude on a weekly basis are healthier...they exercise more regularly...report fewer physical symptoms...and feel better in general than people who journal about neutral or negative life events...that sounds great...and i’ll take all the help i can get in the exercise department... =)

finally...the research showed that people who daily count their blessings report higher levels of alertness...enthusiasm...determination...and energy...wow...the benefits of being grateful are remarkable and many! i guess that shouldn’t surprise me after considering this verse...

"give thanks in all circumstances...for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus...”
1 thessalonians 5:18

the bible urges us to give thanks...all the time...in every situation...because this practice is the will of God...

let me be clear...there are terrible things that happen to us that may not be the will of God...but us praising God and giving thanks in spite of them certainly is the will of God...as christians...we can always find reason to give thanks...thanks for the salvation of Christ...the nearness of God...and the counsel of His Spirit for starters...the psalmist declared... “i will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High” (psalm 7:17) we can do that too...

christian poet john milton once wrote about every grey cloud having a silver lining...purposing to give thanks...no matter the weather...will train us to look for it...continuing in this manner day after day ensures that gratefulness will become our normal mode of operation...

no wonder those researchers found that people regularly counting their blessings grow happier...healthier...and more optimistic...after all...that research wasn’t discovering anything new...but rather confirming the will and wisdom of God...God already knows how great it is for us to be grateful...now “science” does too...

what can you give thanks for today?