Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. —1 Chronicles 16:34
Where does gratitude rank on your list of Christian virtues? In an arsenal that’s supposed to include mountain-moving faith, radical obedience, patient long-suffering, and second-mile self-denial, gratitude often feels like a nonessential accessory. In reality, it is far weightier, more powerful, and more necessary than its lightweight reputation suggests.
Try, for example, to sustain persevering faith— without gratitude—and your faith will eventually forget the whole point of its faithfulness, hardening into a practice of religion that’s hollow and ineffective.
Try to exhibit Christian love—without gratitude—and over time your love will crash hard on the sharp rocks of disappointment and disillusionment. Try giving sacrificially—without gratitude—and you’ll find every ounce of joy drained by a martyr complex.
True gratitude is not an incidental ingredient. It is one of the chief ways that God infuses joy and resilience into the daily struggle of life.
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Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy
©2009 Revived Hearts Foundation
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Where does gratitude honestly rank among your daily spiritual priorities? How does it shape the way you follow Christ?