It’s not my title. It’s the title of an article in the latest and what I hear is the last issue of Discipleship Journal. It was written by Paul Thigpen who teaches theology at Southern Catholic College. The article caught my attention because of its focus on God and on others. In Acts, the early church expresses itself with incredible generosity that flows from grateful hearts.
Paul Thigpen writes: “In many ways, gratitude is a matter of vision. We can learn to direct our attention to those things that draw us to appreciate God for who He is and what He has done. In that regard, here are a dozen ways to cultivate a grateful heart.”
- Give thanks as a holy discipline.
- Give thanks for small, ordinary things.
- Look for hidden blessings.
- Thank God especially amid adversity.
- Focus on God’s purposes in your life rather than fears and worries.
- Give your attention and care to others who are facing great difficulty.
- Set aside time daily to express thanks to God.
- Thank God publicly and corporately.
- Try a voluntary fast from something you take for granted.
- Keep a record of God’s faithfulness.
- Show gratitude toward others.
- Keep giving generously to those in need.
I hear a lot of complaining about the economy, the government, education system, health care, joblessness, etc. In my own quiet time with the Lord this morning, I was reminded again of how blessed I am. Even though I could want for many things, God has met needs and has blessed more than I would have anticipated. I am thankful (today). Tomorrow or the next day I may whine a bit but the Lord will remind me of my blessings.
