Pursuing an attitude of gratitude helps you notice God’s work in your life. When you choose to be grateful day by day, your perception opens up to see how God is blessing you in all circumstances – even when you’re facing challenges. Choosing an attitude of gratitude can strengthen your faith and benefit your well-being in significant ways. Here are 5 ways to develop an attitude of gratitude in any situation.
What Does it Mean to Have an Attitude of Gratitude?
Having an attitude of gratitude means deciding to be thankful in every situation, because no matter what circumstances you’re facing, you look for and appreciate the blessings God constantly gives you. There is always something to be grateful for. Just the fact that God has given you another day to live is a powerful reason to express gratitude. Psalm 118:24 declares: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Even in the most difficult situations, you can give thanks for gifts that God always makes available – such as the ability to breathe, and the ability to enjoy God’s love for you. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Bible encourages you to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Following that advice, even when you’re dealing with tough circumstances and may not feel grateful at first, can help you notice the wonder of what God is doing in your life. Choosing to be grateful even in bad circumstances decreases negative emotional responses to those circumstances, research I cite in my book Wake Up to Wonder shows. One study of people dealing with the constant stress of chronic illness found those whose faith motivated them to be grateful for their blessings experienced awe as a result, despite the stress of dealing with disease. Other studies I explain in my book show that choosing an attitude of gratitude can lead to a multitude of other well-being benefits, including more joy, improved focus, and better health.
No matter what you’re going through, you can count on God’s help whenever you reach out to him. God will give you peace that transcends any circumstances, and that’s something to be thankful for. Colossians 3:15 urges: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Reaching out for God’s peace – no matter what’s happening in your life – can help you develop an attitude of gratitude in any situation, because you’re acknowledging that God will accomplish good purposes even through the bad circumstances you face. Romans 8:28 promises: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
An attitude of gratitude will draw you closer to God as you notice, appreciate, and celebrate his generosity to you, one of his beloved children. As James 1:17 points out: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” You can rely on God to pour blessings into your life every day. Psalm 100:3-5 encourages you to celebrate God’s loving care for you by expressing your gratitude, as an act of worship: “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
1. Write a Daily List of Your Blessings
Make a daily habit of writing down a list of key blessings you’ve experienced that day. Choose three to five blessings that stand out for you from that particular day. You can write them in an ongoing gratitude journal. Or, you can simply jot down a quick list on a piece of paper. After you write your list each day, take a few minutes to reflect on those blessings and to thank God for them in a brief prayer. It can be especially powerful to do so at bedtime, because with your blessings in mind, you’ll feel peaceful and should be able to drift off to sleep well.
2. Sing a Thanksgiving Song to Your Generous Heavenly Father
Don’t hesitate to express your gratitude to God musically, since music is a powerful way to praise God. Psalm 28:7 proclaims: “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” When your heart is filled with joy because of how God has worked in your life lately, sing a song to thank him for it. Your song doesn’t have to be long, formal, or even on key. God will value any song you sing to him that comes from your heart as an expression of your gratitude.
3. Thank People Who Have Helped You
Think about the people who have helped you in some significant way – through encouragement, guidance, or service that has contributed to your success or strengthened your faith. Reflect on friends, family, teachers, coaches, and others whose help you appreciate. Then express your gratitude to each of them, specifically thanking them for what they did to help you. You can write each person a thank you note, call them, or meet them in person or online to thank them. By taking the step of expressly thanking them, you’re helping them too, because they’ll feel God’s love working through you.
4. Pay Your Blessings Forward by Helping Others
Don’t let your blessings stop with you. Instead, pay them forward by helping others. Hebrews 13:16 urges: “Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.” God will be pleased to see you helping other people as an expression of gratitude for what God has done for you. Ask God to show you how you can best use your resources (your time, money, and talents) to help people in need. Then make specific plans to volunteer, contribute, and serve in the ways God leads you to do so.
5. Pursue Joy
Joy is correlated with gratitude, because grateful people can notice God’s presence with them, and joy comes from connecting with God’s presence. Joy is one of the “fruit of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22-23. So, the Holy Spirit will help you pursue more joy. You can discover joy in every circumstance – even in difficult times. As you develop a joyful attitude, you’ll find yourself focusing on God and the ways God is working in your life. That will naturally help you develop an attitude of gratitude.
Choosing an attitude of gratitude will open up your perspective day by day, empowering you to notice God’s work in your life. When you focus on God and the blessings he’s constantly pouring into your life, your faith will grow stronger, and you’ll be able thrive in any circumstances you face.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat
