Gratitude is a gift from God that helps keep life in perspective when I am tempted to feel hopeless. The lies of Satan tell me that I do not have enough, I am not enough, I am failing at the work to which God has called me, that there is no fruit from my labor because things don’t look the way I would like them to, that I am alone in my work, that I should give up on trying any more, that I cannot be effective in ministry, that the challenges I see cannot be overcome, that the battle is more than I can handle. It is easy to be overcome by the endless lies instead of seeing the reality of God’s blessings in the midst of challenges. This is when gratitude is tremendously important.
When I choose to be grateful, I am reminded of the truth of God’s presence and blessings. When I move from hopelessness and depression to gratitude, I see God’s provision of blessings I could never afford with my limited resources. I see the people through whom God has blessed and encouraged me. Gratitude reminds me that God is at work – though I do not see flashy results, I see the evidence of God’s work in my own heart and the hearts of my friends. I see and am encouraged by God’s presence with me when I feel alone. I can praise God for blessing people through me in ways I never considered. I can see and hear truth that can easily get covered up by Satan’s lies.
Gratitude brings life to each day, joy to ministry, hope in the face of challenges and excitement about the possibilities of what the future holds. I praise God for continually bringing me to a place of gratitude when it is tempting to feel overwhelmed in a work for which I am too small.
Praise God for calling me and teaching me to trust in Him. Praise God that His mercies are new every morning. Praise God that He is the one who causes all things to grow. Praise God that He is a good Father who knows and provides for the needs of His children. Praise God who works in all situations to bring good to those who love Him. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!