Self-control over being thankful and grateful!
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes. 5:18 NIV)
Galatians chapter five tells us that one of the nine fruits of the spirit is self-control. I am doing a short series discussing things that God has given us the ability to control. Here is another one.
You can have self-control of being thankful and grateful
Develop an attitude of gratitude. Practice being grateful on a daily basis and your happiness and productivity will increase. Doing so will help you to focus on hope, remain inspired, be optimistic, encouraged and will produce resilience to persevere in the face of any setbacks.
Be grateful for receiving an unshakable Kingdom
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 12:28)
Glorify God with a sacrifice of thanksgiving
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23)
Be thankful that his steadfast love endures forever
“You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:28-29)
Quotes:
“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection. For me, I’m going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity, and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice.” – Mike Ericksen