Do you want to be happy? Be grateful.
Recently a friend told me about a very difficult period in her life. She fell into a depression from which she couldn’t pull herself out. During that time someone advised her to find three things for which she was thankful and to write them down. She decided to listen to that advise, and from then on she has “religiously” kept a gratitude journal. If you met her today, you would never imagine that she ever had a negative thought in her life. My friend is fulfilled; one of the happiest people I know. Incredible. Or not?
The Benefits of Gratitude
Expressing gratitude is one of the best ways to increase your happiness and improve your life, because gratitude reprograms your mind to focus on the positive. Hundreds of studies have shown us the benefits of gratitude. People who are grateful have a greater sense of purpose, see their lives as significant, have positive relationships, a positive disposition and experience greater levels of joy, satisfaction and optimism. You can’t be unhappy and thankful at the same time, nor have self-pity and gratitude, just like you can’t feel frustrated and thankful at the same time.
If that’s the case, why are so many people who aren’t grateful?
Many people aren’t grateful because they aren’t able to accept the role of God or others in their lives. They believe they have a right to all the benefits they have, and they take them for granted. Maybe it’s because the situations they find themselves in are bad, things haven’t turned out as they expected, or they have a lot of problems, like the saying goes life constantly gives them lemons. But I think the point of this saying is, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” So gratitude shouldn’t be a result of what happens to us, but an attitude we nurture as we put it into practice. Gratitude is a choice. In every situation we can find something for which to be grateful.
How do I incorporate gratitude into my life?
- First of all, start like my friend: Take a notebook and title it ‘Gratitude Journal’. Keep it next to your bed. In that journal write down every day three things for which you are grateful. It might be difficult in the beginning to find these things, but start simple. Write down that you’re grateful that you are breathing, that you have a roof over your head, that you had something to eat that day… Give thanks for your family, friends, a beautiful day…for a sunset, that someone made you laugh…, and you will see as you start that every day it will be easier to find things for which you are grateful.
- Give thanks for the people in your life. Give thanks for your parents who gave you life, give thanks for your spouse that made you lunch, give thanks for the worker that did their job…even if it is understood and normal for them to do so. Give thanks with a note, or a little gift and show the people in your life that you appreciate them and value what they do for you.
- Use the breaks life gives you. When the traffic light turns red, when there’s a jam on the road, when you’re stuck in a line, while you’re waiting at the doctor’s office…count the things for which you can be grateful, and remember the people for whom you can give thanks.
Try it out, and after some time you will notice that you are more satisfied and that you have a positive look on life.
You are not a duplicate
This morning in my time with the Lord I heard the words “you are not a duplicate”. As women we so often compare ourselves with others. Have you ever compared yourself? I have!!! it is a complete waste of time because I will never be like someone else, I can only be my unique self. God never creates two things the same, did you know that every snowflake is unique, every fingerprint is unique.
I am created to love others in my own unique.
I am created to have my own unique relationship with my Creator.
I am created to pray uniquely.
I am created to reach the lost in my own unique way.
I am created to read my Bible in my own unique way.
I am created to serve in my own unique way.
Psalm 139: 13-14 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful I know that full well.
Can I encourage you today to be the unique masterpiece that God created you to be.
Arise & Shine
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises on you.”
Isaiah 60:1
It’s time. Whatever position you have been in, it’s time to ARISE. It’s time to stand up!
It’s an action. It’s a change of position.
We don’t have time to be passive or to let life pass us by. We can’t afford to let God’s call on our lives, the gifts and assignments for us to lay dormant any longer.
We must change our position – “Arise” this is a call, a request, a command.
It’s time to recognise our time and our calling to arise and shine!
Remember in school when bullies try to intimidate you? What advise would your parents give? “Stand up for yourself! Don’t let them push you, stand up for yourself.”
There is something about standing up that changes your position, your attitude and your influence.
HANNAH
Remember Hannah in the Bible who so much wanted a child? Hannah went through heartache, being ridiculed, mocked and intimidated by Peninah, the other wife of Elkanah. It went on year after year, after year, after year. Until the time came when after it happened all over again the ridicule and torment from Hannah’s rival that Hannah had, had enough and she changed her position. When Hannah was sat at the table she, ‘stood up’ went into the temple to pour out her heart to the Lord, seek His face and get an answer. Hannah received her answer.
Like Hannah, whatever is happening in our lives that is hard and lasting a long time, we need to come to the point of ‘enough is enough,’ to stand up and go into the Presence of God, to seek His face, pour our hearts out to Him and get our answer, our word from God. The word the Lord gives you in that time you hold on to it, trust and believe it. That is God’s word for you that you treasure, nurture and run with. Then, Hannah shone with joy and peace with the promise of God’s word.
RUTH
Ruth is a character I love in the Bible, she shows such character that we can learn a lot from. Ruth’s ‘Arise, shine’ time was a journey, a life time.
Ruth arose, went with Naomi showing to her love and loyalty. Ruth in diligence got up each day and went out to work in the field. God gave her favour. Ruth was faithful and diligent every day and obedient to Naomi. Through this God divinely led Ruth to her Kinsman Redeemer, Boaz. Her life journey of arising and shining, Ruth is known as a woman of noble character – Ruth’s life shining with Kingdom qualities seen and observed by people around her.
These qualities – Loyalty, diligence, faithfulness and obedience, are what we need when we stand up to do what God asks and calls us to do.
This journey of arising and shining is where we stick to what God has called us to and we don’t jump out when it gets hard and difficult. God will lead you to your breakthrough, He will cause the fruit to come, He will open the door, make a way for what He has for you. This will affect your future and you will do something significant for God’s Kingdom.
ESTHER
Esther, had to stand up for her people, go to the King and save them from disaster.
Esther was an orphan, a beautiful girl and she had a wise uncle, Mordecai, who cared for her. The beauty treatment program that Esther went through lasting twelve months before she would go to the King was long and thorough. She gained favour with Hegai who helped her and Esther also won favour with everyone who saw her. Then we read how she won the favour and approval from the King and he chose Esther to be his queen.
Now that Esther is chosen to be queen, she now has access to the King, the high power. Esther was in a position and place where she could go to the King.
There are times when we need to stand up for God’s Kingdom and it is a risk, it isn’t easy, it is scary. Esther understood the need and she realised the risk, so she prayed and fasted asking others to join with her.
I believe when Esther prayed and fasted, God gave her the strategy and wisdom how to deal with this situation, that was risking her life, then she stood up and approached the King.
Esther was born and set up for this moment – to save God’s people from being destroyed.
We are born and set up for this time to stand up and be a voice where we are and to show people around us the way of salvation.
It’s through prayer and fasting that God reveals to us the strategic plans how to reach out to people around us for Jesus.
Isaiah 60 says, ‘Arise, shine for your light has come and THE GLORY OF THE LORD RISES ON YOU.’
What is God’s glory that is on us?
God’s glory is His holiness, His greatness, His beauty, His favour and His power!
So, God’s beauty, holiness, favour, power and greatness rises on us and is on us!
So that, we can arise, we can stand up, we can shine, we can be a voice where we are in our families, in our work place, in our cities, towns and communities – because His glory is on us, bringing open doors, extraordinary favour and opportunities that we need to take hold of with both hands.
So we arise, we shine, for our light has come and His glory rises on us.
Cocooned in Grace and Love
“Father this morning I get such a sense of being surrounded by your LOVE”. These were the words I spoke to my Heavenly Father this morning. I love to sit in silence and just sense His presence and whilst doing that this morning having my early morning coffee, I had such a sense of being cocooned in His Grace and Love. The picture I saw in my mind was of a baby safely cocooned in it’s mother’s womb. A pregnant woman is constantly watching over and protecting her baby. Our heavenly Father is constantly watching over us. If you are feeling insecure today meditate on the following scripture.
2 Chronicles 16:9 “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to HIM.
If someone is cocooned in blankets or clothes, they are completely wrapped in them; that is what we are when we surrender our will to God, He wraps us completely in His GRACE and LOVE.
Gratitude or ingratitude which will you choose?
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s Will for you in Christ Jesus. 1st Thessalonians5:18
I think we have all struggled at some point in our lives with the above scripture that says in all things give thanks, I have, I have thought how is that possible, but over the years as I have cultivated gratitude and thankfulness into my life I realise that it is actually possible to find something in each situation or circumstance to be grateful and thankful for.
Gratitude is always a choice, it is not automatic, we choose to be either grateful or ungrateful. It has actually been scientifically proven that gratitude is good for you. It has taken science a long time to realise this, but our God has always known, that is why He say’s it in His Word. God always has a reason for what He requires of us, He knows that if we have a grateful heart it is much better for our health and He always wants the best for us.
According to science these are the benefits of gratitude:-
1. Better relationships 2. improves physical health 3. Improves psychological health 4. Increased empathy and reduces aggression 5. Grateful people sleep better and are more peaceful 6. Gratitude improves self esteem 7. Gratitude increases mental health.
Ungrateful people are often careless and complacent, they feel entitled and are often full of self pity and complain a lot. They will always compare themselves with others and very often isolate themselves.
I know which I would rather be how about you? All it takes is a choice.