Wednesday, 7 October 2026

Holy Spirit Baptism and Filling: Living in God’s Presence Every Day

​Why do we need the baptism and continual filling of the Holy Spirit? In this message, we explore the biblical purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit and being continually strengthened by His presence.

Discover how the Holy Spirit helps believers grow in faith, understand God’s Word, live with spiritual strength, pray with greater confidence, and share the gospel with boldness. Learn why the Christian life depends not only on a past experience but also on a continual relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

Reflect on the Scriptures, and consider how you can seek a deeper walk with God each day.

Listen to Holy Spirit Baptism and Filling

Subscribe where you listen to podcasts https://revtrev.com/radio

Watch Holy Spirit Baptism and Filling

Subscribe and set notifications to catch future video teaching and training. https://revtrev.com/tv

baptism and continual filling of the Holy Spirit

​Summary Holy Spirit Baptism and Filling

Holy Spirit baptism and filling are related but distinct experiences in the Christian life. Every believer has the Holy Spirit, while baptism in the Spirit marks an empowering experience with signs that follow. The gift of tongues can build believers up, strengthen prayer, and help them pray in the Spirit, though it should be sought with love and humility rather than treated as a measure of spiritual worth. Continual filling is a daily way of life in which the Spirit produces wisdom, worship, thanksgiving, boldness, and power for ministry. The ABC practice—Ask, Bow, and Count on His Presence—offers a practical pattern for trusting God, surrendering to His will, and walking with Him throughout each day.

Read Holy Spirit Baptism and Filling: Living in God’s Presence Every Day

Many Christians have experienced meaningful moments with God, but the Holy Spirit is not given only for a single experience. The Lord desires to work continually in His people—strengthening prayer, producing Christlike character, giving wisdom, and empowering faithful witness.

This is why Holy Spirit baptism and filling matter. The baptism of the Spirit marks a moment, but the continual filling of the Holy Spirit manifests Jesus in our lives.

Understanding the difference can help us pursue God with greater clarity. It can also protect us from two opposite errors: treating spiritual gifts as something to earn, or assuming that one experience from years ago is enough for the entire Christian life.

Every Christian Has the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not reserved for a special class of Christians. Everyone who believes in Christ receives the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes that God has identified believers as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in their hearts as the first installment guaranteeing what He has promised (2 Corinthians 1:21–22). Ephesians 1:13 likewise teaches that those who hear and believe the good news are marked as God’s own by receiving the promised Holy Spirit.

This is foundational. The Christian life begins with God’s grace, not human achievement. We do not earn salvation, and we do not earn the Holy Spirit by becoming impressive enough. God gives His Spirit to those who belong to Christ.

However, having the Holy Spirit is not the same as experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit or living continually filled with the Spirit. These truths belong together, but they should not be confused.

What Is Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation, with signs that follow. A person cannot be baptized in the Spirit without first setting Christ apart as Lord in the heart.

Christian traditions have differed over which signs should be expected. In traditional Pentecostal circles, speaking in tongues has often been viewed as the sign of Spirit baptism. Yet spiritual gifts must never become a basis for pride, judgment, or the idea that someone can earn God’s approval.

Salvation cannot be earned. Neither can a gift from God be earned through personal perfection.

The important point is that signs follow the experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is one expression of the Spirit’s work, but it should not be used to declare that someone has never been baptized in the Spirit simply because they have not spoken in tongues. God gives gifts according to His purposes, and spiritual experiences should be approached with humility, love, and faithfulness to Scripture.

Why Speaking in Tongues Matters

Paul describes tongues as the least of the gifts because the gifts are given for the common good, while speaking in tongues builds up the person who speaks. Prophecy, by contrast, directly encourages others. Yet Paul still said, “I wish you would all speak in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:5).

That tells us that a gift can be personally strengthening without being unimportant.

According to the biblical teaching presented in this message, speaking in tongues can:

  1. Build us up — It strengthens the person praying (1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 1:20).
  2. Help us speak to God directly — It provides prayer without pretence (1 Corinthians 14:2).
  3. Help us pray in the Spirit — Ephesians 6:18 calls believers to pray in the Spirit on all occasions.
  4. Give words when our own words run out — It can help us continue praying when we do not know what to say (Romans 8:25).
  5. Help us intercede according to God’s will — Romans 8:26–27 points to the Spirit’s help in our weakness and prayer.
  6. Serve as a sign for unbelievers — Paul also identifies tongues as a sign in 1 Corinthians 14:22.

Speaking in tongues is therefore a good gift, but it must be pursued in the right spirit. It is not a badge of superiority. It is not proof that someone is more valuable than another believer. It is not something to use for comparison or condemnation.

The gift should be sought with love, humility, and a desire to strengthen the church. Even when tongues primarily build up the individual praying, a strengthened believer is better prepared to serve others.

How to Seek the Gift: The A.S.K. Pattern

Some people are held back from spiritual gifts by ignorance, arrogance, selfishness, or pride. Ignorance can be addressed by learning what Scripture teaches and responding in faith.

A simple pattern for seeking the gift is A.S.K.

Ask for It

Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

If you belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within you. You can ask God for the gifts He desires to give. The Father is good, and Jesus used the example of a loving father who does not give a snake when his child asks for a fish. How much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? (Luke 11:9–13).

You can ask with confidence because the Spirit of truth guides believers into truth and glorifies Jesus (John 16:13–15).

Seek It Eagerly

Scripture repeatedly encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts. Paul wrote, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31). He also said, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:1).

This pursuit must remain connected to love. Spiritual gifts are not trophies. They are ways God equips His people to serve.

If you are seeking to pray in tongues, do not assume that you are merely inventing something because the experience feels unfamiliar. Faith often requires a willingness to step beyond what feels natural. The sounds may begin with only a syllable or two. That does not mean the beginning is worthless. Small beginnings can grow as confidence develops.

Paul concludes, “Be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39). The right response is neither rejection nor obsession, but humble, biblical openness.

Know You Must Step Out in Faith

Receiving a gift requires trust in God. Hebrews 11:6 teaches that those who come to God must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Some people expect the Holy Spirit to take control of their mouth and tongue so that they have no participation in speaking. While some describe receiving tongues in that way, it is not the only way God works. The Spirit does not normally remove our responsibility or free will.

Scripture says, “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets” (1 Corinthians 14:32). We remain responsible to respond to the Spirit’s leading. We may need to open our mouths and speak the sounds forming in our minds and hearts.

This can feel uncomfortable because the words may sound unfamiliar. Yet learning to pray in a spiritual language can involve trust and practice. Ask if you have not received the gift. Pray them if you have them. In either case, continue seeking God with faith.

Holy Spirit Baptism and Continual Filling Are Not the Same

The distinction is essential: the baptism of the Spirit marks a moment, but continual filling manifests Jesus in our lives.

Some believers look back to an experience from years earlier and assume it places them at the pinnacle of Christian maturity. But one past experience is not a substitute for daily dependence on God.

Paul commands all believers to be continually filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). We are also told to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).

The Christian life requires ongoing surrender.

We need continual filling because we leak. Sometimes we pour out strength, love, wisdom, and ministry to others and need to be refreshed. At other times, we fail to use what God has given, and spiritual vitality fades through disuse. Either way, we must keep returning to God.

A Spirit-filled believer is not someone who never struggles. A Spirit-filled believer is someone who keeps returning to God, yielding to Him, receiving from Him, and obeying Him.

What Continual Filling Looks Like

Continual filling affects ordinary situations. It matters when a neighbor is hurting, when family members require patience, when fear threatens to silence our witness, and when worship feels distant.

The Holy Spirit does not promise to remove every difficulty. He gives grace for faithful obedience within difficulty.

Colossians 1:9 describes being filled with the knowledge of God’s will through the wisdom and understanding given by the Spirit. The Spirit gives insight to live faithfully, not merely information to collect.

Ephesians 5:18–20 describes another dimension of continual filling: speaking with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making music to the Lord, and giving thanks to God in everything.

The word used for “filled” carries the sense of being full and overflowing. The Spirit’s work should touch the whole of life—our understanding, words, worship, attitudes, and gratitude.

Continual filling also includes supernatural power for ministry. Acts 2:4 describes believers speaking in unknown languages. Acts 4:8 shows Peter preaching boldly before the Sanhedrin, and Acts 4:31 describes believers speaking God’s Word with boldness.

These examples show that the Spirit fills believers not only for personal renewal but also for the proclamation and advancement of the gospel.

The ABC Practice for Continual Filling

A practical way to seek continual filling is ABC: Ask, Bow, and Count on His Presence.

Ask: Trust God to Fill and Use You

Begin with confidence in God’s willingness and ability to fill you.

Ask Him for wisdom, spiritual understanding, knowledge of His will, Christlike character, praise, thanksgiving, boldness, and power to serve. A daily prayer might be:

“Father, I trust You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Give me wisdom to know Your will, grace to obey You, and power to serve and speak for You.”

Asking expresses dependence. Spiritual wisdom, holiness, boldness, and ministry power come from God.

Bow: Surrender to His Will

Being filled with the Spirit includes yielding every part of life to God. We cannot ask God to fill us while insisting on controlling our attitudes, words, relationships, plans, and actions.

To bow means to submit to Scripture, turn from sin, follow the Spirit’s direction, forgive and love others, speak truthfully and graciously, and offer our abilities, time, and possessions for God’s purposes.

Obedience does not earn the Spirit’s presence. It is our response to His presence.

A helpful daily question is: “Holy Spirit, what do You want me to do today?”

Count on His Presence

God is with His people. The issue is not whether He is present, but whether we are aware of Him and responding to Him.

To count on His presence means remembering that God is with you, turning your attention to Him in ordinary and difficult moments, listening through Scripture and prayer, and relying on Him as guide, comforter, companion, and strength.

A simple prayer is:

“Holy Spirit, You are with me. Help me be with You.”

God’s presence is not created by our effort. Through the Holy Spirit, He already lives with and within His people. We learn to recognize Him, abide with Him, and walk with Him.

Living Beyond a Single Spiritual Moment

The goal is not merely to have an experience to remember. The goal is to become a person through whom Jesus is increasingly seen.

Continual filling can make prayer more than a duty. It can become a living relationship. Worship can become a response of the heart. Service can become less about performance and more about love. Spiritual gifts can be welcomed with humility and tested according to Scripture.

When we rely less on natural strength, God can use ordinary believers to bring encouragement, wisdom, comfort, healing, and direction to others.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for today. If you have the gift of tongues, use it. If you do not, seek it. But do not stop at a single experience. Holy Spirit baptism and filling point toward a life of daily dependence.

Ask in trust. Bow in obedience. Count on His presence.

The baptism of the Spirit marks a moment, but continual filling allows Christ to become evident in our words, attitudes, worship, relationships, and service. The Holy Spirit wants more than a moment at the altar. He wants a movement through our lives—continually filling us, transforming us, and working through us.

baptism and continual filling of the Holy Spirit

​What I’ve Taught on Holy Spirit

Check out my messages and blog posts on Holy Spirit. I’ll keep this updated. Let me know if there is a specific topic you want covered in the comments.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

How to Feel Grateful No Matter What Happens

​Learn how to feel grateful no matter what happens, shift your perspective, find peace in hard times, and build a lasting daily gratitude habit today.

​Trevor H Lund helps capable and caring people—who are growing weary in doing good—move from striving and stress to peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He does this as an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live casts at https://revtrev.com/, shares his writing at https://trevorlund.com/, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/.

​Listen to how to feel grateful

Subscribe where you listen to podcast https://revtrev.com/radio

Watch the Teaching of how to feel grateful

Subscribe and set notification on YouTube https://revtrev.com/tv

Replay of Live Cast on How to Feel Grateful

Subscribe and set notification on YouTube https://revtrev.com/tv

Summary of How to Feel Grateful

This guide explores how to feel grateful no matter what happens by grounding gratitude in God’s character rather than changing circumstances or temporary emotions. It explains why the third week of a gratitude challenge can feel flat, what wholehearted gratitude means, and why feelings often need time to follow a deliberate decision. The post also discusses a longer process of developing a lasting habit and introduces a practical Name, Notice, Thank routine. Specific examples, honest prayers, and appreciation for other people make the practice more personal and actionable. Readers will learn how gratitude can coexist with sadness, uncertainty, and fatigue while gradually reshaping attention, relationships, and daily prayer.
how to feel grateful

Read: How to Feel Grateful No Matter What Happens

Learning how to feel grateful no matter what happens does not mean pretending that life is easy. It does not require ignoring grief, fear, disappointment, or uncertainty. Instead, it means learning where to place your attention when circumstances are difficult.

Gratitude can begin as a decision before it becomes an emotion. You may choose to thank God while still feeling tired or discouraged. Over time, that decision can create room for genuine gratitude to grow.

This process takes patience. If you are several weeks into a gratitude practice and still feel emotionally flat, you have not necessarily failed. You may be in the part of the process where consistency matters most.

Why Week Three of a Gratitude Practice Can Feel Discouraging

Many people begin a gratitude challenge with enthusiasm. At first, the practice feels fresh. Writing down what you appreciate or saying prayers of thanks can seem natural and meaningful.

Then the excitement fades.

Around the third week, gratitude may begin to feel repetitive. You may still complete the practice, but the emotional response you expected has not arrived. This is often the point when people assume they are doing something wrong.

That conclusion is not necessary. Feeling little change does not mean your faith is weak or your practice is ineffective. It may simply mean that your emotions have not yet caught up with your decision.

Psalm 118:1 provides an important foundation:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.”

Notice that this verse does not base gratitude on a pleasant day, a successful outcome, or a positive mood. The reason for giving thanks is God’s goodness and enduring love.

That distinction matters. If gratitude depends entirely on circumstances, it will rise and fall whenever circumstances change. But when gratitude is rooted in God’s character, it has a steadier foundation.

You can feel tired and still thank God for rest. You can feel sad and still thank God for someone who remains near. You can feel uncertain and still thank God that his love does not depend on your confidence.

Gratitude does not erase the difficult emotion. It gives you another truth to hold alongside it.

Your Feelings Can Follow Your Focus

What receives your attention often becomes more prominent in your experience. When you continually focus on loss, fear, or frustration, those emotions can become larger and more consuming.

Turning your attention toward God’s goodness does not deny what is happening. It is not an instruction to pretend that pain is absent. Instead, it is a decision to notice more than the painful circumstance.

This is honest attention.

You might acknowledge that a situation is difficult while also noticing a kindness, a provision, a relationship, or a moment of rest. Both realities can exist at once. The hardship may still be real, but it no longer has your undivided attention.

That is one reason gratitude can be practiced even before it is felt. You begin by choosing where to look. As you repeatedly direct your attention toward what is good, your emotions may gradually begin to respond.

What Wholehearted Gratitude Really Means

The phrase “give thanks with your whole heart” can sound like it refers only to a strong feeling. But wholehearted gratitude involves more than emotion.

In the Hebrew understanding described in the script, the heart includes decisions, emotions, and actions. These three elements work together:

  1. Decision: You choose to give thanks for something specific.
  2. Emotion: You experience genuine appreciation for what you have identified.
  3. Action: You express that appreciation through words, writing, prayer, or worship.

The decision is often the easiest part. You can choose to thank God before you feel enthusiastic or emotionally moved. The action is also practical. You can write a sentence, speak a prayer, or express appreciation to another person.

The emotion is usually more difficult. Feelings cannot always be switched on by command. If you are waiting to feel grateful before beginning, you may remain stuck.

This does not mean that your faith is weak. It means that your emotions may need time and repetition. Rather than saying that your heart must catch up to your head, it may be more accurate to say that your emotions need time to follow your decision.

You decide to give thanks. Then you continue making space for the feeling to develop.

The words “his faithful love endures forever” provide a firm place for that process. People change. Health changes. Plans change. Circumstances change. The faithfulness of God’s love remains the foundation beneath those changes.

How Long Does It Take for Gratitude to Feel Natural?

There is no single timeline that applies identically to everyone. Still, the script presents a gradual process rather than an instant transformation.

The first noticeable shift may occur after about 21 days of consistent gratitude practice. The deeper change—when gratitude begins to feel more automatic—may require several cycles of that practice, or approximately 63 to 70 days.

That is why a 70-day challenge can be useful. The third week is not necessarily the finish line. It may not even represent the point where the deepest change becomes visible.

Habit research discussed in the script, including work associated with Phillippa Lally and her team, found that a new behaviour took a median of about 66 days to become automatic. The time varied among individuals, and some people needed considerably longer.

This timeline should be treated as a guide, not a deadline. If gratitude still feels deliberate after several weeks, that does not mean you should stop. Repetition is part of the process.

The script also refers to studies by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough involving gratitude journals. In that research, participants who wrote about things they appreciated showed outcomes including greater optimism, improved views of their lives, more exercise, and fewer visits to doctors.

Another study described in the script followed adults dealing with serious illness during a 21-day gratitude practice. Participants reported more energy, stronger connection, better sleep, and a more hopeful view of life.

These findings do not mean gratitude removes hardship or guarantees a specific result. They do suggest that regularly directing attention toward appreciation can influence how people experience their lives.

The script also mentions the American Brain Foundation’s explanation that gratitude activates areas associated with decision-making and emotional awareness, influences dopamine, and calms the amygdala, which is involved in the stress response. In this view, repeated gratitude helps build new patterns of attention and response.

A Personal Example of Gratitude Becoming More Natural

The script describes a personal experience with a 70-day gratitude challenge.

Around day eight, the person noticed that they had begun singing praise songs to God without deliberately trying to create that response. The experience was unexpected.

Around day fifty, another shift became clear: gratitude no longer felt like something they had to force. Once they decided to give thanks, the feeling began to come more readily.

The practice continued in prayer for more than two years, and most days gratitude occurred without the same sense of effort.

This example does not establish a guaranteed timeline for everyone. It illustrates what can happen when a decision is repeated long enough for the emotional response to develop.

The Name, Notice, Thank Practice

A simple daily pattern can help you continue when gratitude feels difficult:

1. Name your strongest emotion

Begin honestly. Identify what you are feeling most strongly.

You may feel sad, worried, angry, tired, grateful, or uncertain. The goal is not to choose the emotion that sounds most spiritual. The goal is to acknowledge what is actually present.

Naming the emotion keeps the practice grounded in reality.

2. Notice how God meets you in that emotion

After naming your feeling, look for one way God’s care is present.

If you feel tired, you might notice an opportunity to rest. If you feel sad, you might recognize the person who stays close. If you feel uncertain, you might remember that God’s love does not depend on your ability to feel certain.

This step does not require you to explain the entire situation. Look for one specific point of care.

3. Thank God in one sentence

Express your gratitude directly and simply.

For example, you might thank God for the person who encouraged you, the rest available to you, or the faithfulness you are trying to remember. One honest sentence is enough to begin.

4. Tell one person why you appreciate them

Gratitude is not only an internal or private practice. Each day, identify one person and explain what you appreciate about them.

Specific appreciation can strengthen your awareness of the care others provide. It can also encourage you to listen more closely, notice more carefully, and remember acts of kindness that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

Why Specific Gratitude Matters

General statements can be difficult to feel deeply. “I am thankful for my family” may be true, but it leaves your attention broad and undefined.

Specific gratitude gives your mind something concrete to notice.

Instead of saying, “I am thankful for my children,” identify a particular action: perhaps your daughter offered to host the entire family for Thanksgiving. Instead of saying, “I am thankful for my dog,” remember the way your dog nudged you when you were sad.

Specific details make appreciation more personal. They also help you revisit the moment rather than simply naming a category.

When you write or pray, add depth where you can:

  • What happened?
  • Who was involved?
  • What did the person do?
  • Why did it matter to you?
  • How did you experience God’s care through it?

The point is not to produce a polished paragraph. The point is to pay attention.

A Simple Prayer for Difficult Days

Some days, you may be too tired or discouraged to find your own words. A simple pattern can help:

“Lord, today I feel what I’m feeling. I notice your care through what you’ve placed in front of me. Thank you for what you’ve given. Help my heart trust your goodness.”

You can adapt the wording to your situation. The prayer begins with honesty rather than denial. It acknowledges the emotion, identifies care, expresses thanks, and asks for help trusting God’s goodness.

That sequence makes room for both truth and gratitude.

Gratitude Can Change How You Relate to People

As you practice thanking God for specific people, you may begin to notice their care more clearly. Attention affects relationships.

When you recognize someone’s effort, you may become more patient with them. When you remember what they have done, you may listen more carefully. When you express appreciation, you reinforce the habit of seeing their contribution rather than focusing only on their shortcomings.

A grateful heart pays attention. It listens, remembers, and responds.

This does not mean every relationship becomes easy. It means gratitude can influence the way you see and engage with the people around you.

How to Feel Grateful No Matter What Happens

The goal is not to become grateful because life has become simple. The goal is to allow your response to change even when your circumstances do not.

Wholehearted gratitude begins with a decision, grows into an emotion, and becomes visible through action. The process may feel slow, especially during the third week of a challenge. That flatness is not proof that nothing is happening.

Continue by naming your emotion, noticing God’s care, thanking him specifically, and expressing appreciation to someone else. Give your emotions time to follow your decision.

Learning how to feel grateful no matter what happens means grounding your gratitude in God’s goodness and faithful love rather than in a temporary outcome. Week three may not be where the practice ends. It may be where the change begins.

Join the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Today https://revtrev.link/thanks

how to feel grateful
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Feeling Gratitude for Simple Things

​Feeling gratitude for simple things can change the way you experience each day. In this message, discover how appreciating small blessings—such as a quiet moment, a kind word, time with loved ones, or a beautiful view—can support greater joy, peace, and contentment.

Links included

Psalms of Lament https://revtrev.com/psalms
Download the Our Father Prayer Rhythm https://revtrev.link/pray
Learn more about the Live Light 70-day Gratitude Challenge https://revtrev.link/thanks

#gratitude, #gratitudepractice, #simplethingsinlife

Practice gratitude by noticing the good around you and making appreciation part of your daily routine. Small moments often have the power to create a more positive mindset and a meaningful life.

Trevor H Lund helps capable and caring people—who are growing weary in doing good—move from striving and stress to peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He does this as an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live casts at https://revtrev.com/, shares his writing at https://trevorlund.com/, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/.

Feeling Gratitude for Simple things

Listen to Feeling Gratitude for Simple Things

Subscribe where you listen to podcasts https://revtrev.com/radio

Watch the Teaching of Feeling Gratitude for Simple Things

Subscribe and set notifications https://revtrev.com/tv

Watch the Replay of the Live Cast Feeling Gratitude for Simple Things

Summary of Feeling Gratitude for Simple Things

Gratitude for simple things can become a steady spiritual practice, even when life includes fear, illness, grief, or uncertainty. This post explores how ordinary blessings often become invisible when familiarity turns gifts into expectations. Drawing on 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, it connects joy, prayer, and thankfulness while emphasizing that gratitude does not require denying pain. A personal medical experience illustrates how honest prayer and trust can make room for peace during a frightening complication. The post also presents a practical framework for developing gratitude: decide to notice, feel appreciation for a specific gift, and express that appreciation through action. Finally, it explains how a consistent 70-day practice can help gratitude become more automatic.

Read Feeling Gratitude for Simple Things Can Transform Difficult Days

A nurse once told me I had far too much joy for someone in my situation. She was right: I was lying in a pool of my own blood after a medical complication.

Yet I was not pretending everything was fine. I had already poured out my fear and complaint to God in prayer with thanksgiving. That honest prayer made room for something I did not expect: peace, appreciation, and joy in the middle of a frightening moment.

The Bible connects joy, prayer, and thankfulness in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18: “Always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

This does not mean every situation feels easy. It means gratitude for simple things can become a way of noticing God’s care, even when life feels anything but simple.

Why Everyday Blessings Become Invisible

When life gets busy, gratitude is often one of the first things to disappear.

You wake up and the day immediately begins making demands. There is a meal on the table, a safe place to sleep, a message from a friend, a warm drink, strength for the day, a quiet moment, meaningful work, someone willing to listen, or another opportunity to begin again.

These gifts may seem small because they are familiar. But familiar gifts still deserve thanks.

The problem begins when daily blessings stop feeling like gifts and start feeling like rights. You may move from “Thank you, God,” to “Of course I have this,” without noticing the change.

Consider what you might now treat as an entitlement even though you once recognized it as a blessing:

  • A spouse or friend who helps with ordinary responsibilities
  • A vehicle that starts each morning
  • A body that continues to carry you through the day
  • A home where you can rest
  • Food that is available when you are hungry
  • Someone who listens when you need to speak
  • The opportunity to begin again after a difficult day

When gratitude disappears, entitlement can quietly take its place. Entitlement steals joy before you realize it is gone.

Gratitude for Simple Things Begins With Attention

In the ancient Hebrew understanding, the heart is more than the center of emotion. It is also connected with decisions and actions.

That gives “wholehearted gratitude” a deeper meaning. Gratitude involves three connected movements:

  1. You decide to notice.
  2. You feel thankful for what you notice.
  3. You express appreciation through action, worship, or service.

Many people stop at the first step, if they reach it at all. They may notice a blessing briefly but never pause to feel gratitude or respond meaningfully.

A thankful heart therefore requires attention. You deliberately look at what is in front of you and recognize it as a gift rather than assuming it is owed to you.

This practice may begin with something very ordinary. You might notice the food you nearly rushed past, the safe journey home, the person who checked on you, or the breath you just took.

Attention forms part of worship because it redirects your focus. Instead of seeing only what is missing, you begin to recognize what has already been given.

A Medical Crisis That Revealed Unexpected Joy

Before traveling to New Zealand for our son’s graduation and wedding, I was waiting for cardiac ablation surgery. My heart would sometimes beat irregularly, my watch repeatedly alerted me, and I had visited the emergency room several times for ECGs.

I was also taking special blood thinners so medical staff could use paddles if the irregular rhythm happened again.

The surgery was scheduled for the week before our trip. I asked the nurse arranging it whether travelling to the other side of the world the following week could create a problem. She explained that the medical team would not want me to experience complications out of province and said she would try to reschedule the procedure for after I returned.

The word “complications” stayed with me.

I had already experienced too many health complications, and I did not want another one. After thinking about it for several days, I finally brought the fear to God. I poured out my complaint honestly.

God does not need us to hide what is on our hearts. He knows us more deeply than we know ourselves. As I prayed, I remembered previous health complications and the ways I had experienced God’s presence and help through them. I sensed the question: Would I trust Him with any complication this time?

I chose to trust Him, and I experienced peace. Through prayer, I exchanged my problems for His peace.

The surgery itself went well, although there was a complication. I had to remain lying on my back without sitting up. Nurses found a hematoma beginning to form and worked to resolve it. At one point, I nearly passed out and felt sick, but they gave me a drip and orange juice, and I began to recover.

Later, as two nurses changed the dressings on each side, the nurse working on the left noticed that the right side had started bleeding. He called the other nurse back while pressure was applied. She pressed harder, and I began to feel as though I might become sick or lose consciousness again.

Once more, I received medical support and orange juice. Gradually, I felt better.

Throughout the process, I appreciated the nurse who was working overtime to help me get home as soon as possible. I thanked her and told her I was grateful.

She replied, “You have far too much joy for the situation you’re in right now.”

She was right. I was lying in a pool of my own blood. But my laughter was not denial or delusion. I was at peace. I believed God was with me and would use the experience for good.

I was grateful that the complication happened in the hospital, where trained people could help me, rather than at home.

Joy, Prayer, and Thankfulness Belong Together

Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians connect three practices: joy, prayer, and gratitude.

They work together like a three-strand cord.

Prayer helps you notice what you often overlook. When you slow down before God, you become more aware of the meal on the table, the person beside you, and the strength that carried you through the day.

Prayer moves your attention from demand to relationship. Instead of approaching God only with requests, you become aware of His presence and care.

This does not mean Christians must force themselves to feel cheerful. Biblical joy is not the same as pretending that circumstances are pleasant. It is possible to experience joy because of God’s presence while still feeling fear, grief, disappointment, or physical pain.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

That verse does not promise that every day will feel easy. It points to a different truth: every day belongs to God. You receive the present day as a gift rather than treating it as something guaranteed or owed to you.

Gratitude Does Not Cancel Grief

“Give thanks in all circumstances” is sometimes misunderstood as an instruction to smile through every painful event. But gratitude does not require you to call suffering good or pretend that loss does not hurt.

You may feel grief and gratitude at the same time.

You may face pressure and still thank God for His presence. You may lack an answer and still trust His care. You may feel afraid while recognizing that you are not alone.

Gratitude does not deny hardship. It gives hardship its proper place.

A difficult day may contain real difficulty, but difficulty does not have to become the whole story. God remains present, mercy continues, and gifts may still surround you even when you cannot yet see how the situation will resolve.

When life feels heavy, begin with honest prayer. A psalm of lament can help you express what you truly feel before trying to give thanks. You can pour out your complaint first and then make room for gratitude.

That order matters. Honest prayer is not the opposite of faith. It can prepare your attention to recognize God’s care.

How to Practice Gratitude for Simple Things Every Day

Gratitude becomes stronger when it moves beyond a general statement such as “I am thankful for my family.” Specific appreciation helps you notice the details of how care reaches you.

Instead, write something like:

“I am thankful that my sister called and listened when I felt stressed.”

The specific detail matters. It identifies what happened, how it affected you, and why it was meaningful.

A simple daily framework includes three steps:

1. Decide to give thanks

Make a deliberate choice to look for one gift, even when your emotions are unsettled. This is not pretending. It is directing your attention.

2. Feel gratitude for a specific gift

Name the particular person, moment, provision, or strength that you recognize. Avoid vague language when possible.

3. Show appreciation

Respond through prayer, a message, a kind word, practical help, or an act of worship. Gratitude becomes more lasting when it takes visible form.

This framework can be practiced privately or in community. In a small group, one person’s expression of thanks may remind another person of a forgotten gift. A story about daily provision may strengthen someone facing fear.

Shared gratitude does not remove problems, but it gives people a faithful way to respond together.

Building a Thankful Mind Through Repetition

A lasting practice usually requires consistency.

The 70-day gratitude approach is designed to provide enough time for repeated practice. Researcher Philippa Lally at University College London found that new habits took an average of 66 days to become automatic. A 70-day period covers that average timeframe with a small additional margin.

The practice can also include repeated 21-day periods. Happiness researcher Shawn Achor reported that gratitude journaling for 21 days increases optimism and happiness. A 70-day period allows for three such cycles, with additional days continuing the practice.

The central framework remains simple:

  • Decide to give thanks.
  • Feel gratitude for something specific.
  • Show appreciation through action.

Consistency matters because habit formation involves repeated patterns. UCLA Health published information in 2025 describing how forming new habits involves creating new neural pathways through consistent repetition over time.

The goal is not to manufacture positive feelings on demand. It is to retrain your attention so that ordinary gifts become visible again.

Begin With One Overlooked Blessing

You do not need to begin with a long list or a dramatic spiritual experience.

Start with one blessing you nearly missed today.

It might be:

  • A meal you ate quickly
  • A safe drive home
  • A warm drink
  • A friend’s message
  • The ability to rest
  • Strength for one more task
  • A quiet moment
  • The chance to begin again

Then move through the three parts of wholehearted gratitude. Decide to notice it, allow yourself to feel thankful, and express appreciation in some way.

Gratitude for simple things is not denial. It is a decision to notice God’s care in ordinary moments. You can grieve and give thanks. You can face uncertainty and still pray. You can acknowledge hardship while recognizing that hardship does not contain the entire story.

Your heart can be retrained. Begin by noticing the gift that is already in front of you.

Learn more about the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge - Start today https://revtrev.link/thanks

Feeling Gratitude for simple things
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, 24 September 2026

Christian Gratitude Practice: The Toughest part of Choosing Gratitude Daily

​Discover how a Christian gratitude practice can reshape daily habits, strengthen faith, and help you give thanks in difficult seasons.

Resources discussed in Christian Gratitude Practice: The Toughest part of Choosing Gratitude Daily
​Download the Our Father Prayer Rhythm https://revtrev.com/our-father
Learn more about the Live Light 70-day Gratitude Challenge https://revtrev.link/thanks

​Trevor H Lund helps capable and caring people—who are growing weary in doing good—move from striving and stress to peace and purpose as they rediscover and enjoy the life God created them for. He does this as an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur. He encourages through his blog, podcast, and live casts at https://revtrev.com/, shares his writing at https://trevorlund.com/, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca/.

Listen to Christian Gratitude Practice: The Toughest part of Choosing Gratitude Daily

Subscribe where you listen to podcasts: https://revtrev.com/radio

​Watch the teaching Part of Christian Gratitude Practice: The Toughest part of Choosing Gratitude Daily

Watch the Replay of The Live Cast Christian Gratitude Practice: The Toughest part of Choosing Gratitude Daily

Subscribe and set notifications at https://revtrev.com/tv

Read Christian Gratitude Practice: The Toughest part of Choosing Gratitude Daily

​Summary

A Christian gratitude practice is not about pretending that pain, illness, injustice, or disappointment do not exist. It is a deliberate decision to recognize God’s goodness within every circumstance. Drawing from Psalm 138, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Hebrew understanding of “heart,” and research on gratitude and habit formation, this post explains how gratitude involves the mind, will, emotions, and actions. It also shows why specific appreciation is more meaningful than vague statements, how prayer and journaling can build consistency, and why lasting practice may require several weeks. Readers receive a simple pattern for daily thanksgiving that makes room for lament while encouraging worship, resilience, and shared gratitude.

​Resources discussed in Christian Gratitude Practice: The Toughest part of Choosing Gratitude Daily
Our Father Prayer Rhythm https://revtrev.com/our-father
Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge https://revtrev.link/thanks

Christian Gratitude Practice

A Christian gratitude practice is not based on waiting until you feel cheerful, rested, or free from problems. It begins with a decision to recognize God’s goodness, even when life is painful or exhausting. Gratitude may not come naturally during difficult seasons, but Scripture presents thanksgiving as an intentional response involving the whole person.

For anyone serving others, managing a household, leading a congregation, or living with ongoing health challenges, this distinction matters. Complaints often appear without effort. Gratitude requires attention, repetition, and purpose.

That does not mean denying pain. Scripture gives us room to grieve, question, and lament. The Psalms contain honest cries from people who were afraid, overwhelmed, and disappointed. Yet those same prayers often return to praise. Biblical gratitude does not require perfect circumstances. It means remembering that God remains worthy of honor in every season.

What a Christian Gratitude Practice Really Means

Psalm 138:1 says, “I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart.” This verse offers a useful picture of biblical thanksgiving.

In everyday English, the heart is often associated mainly with emotion. In the Hebrew understanding reflected in Scripture, the heart includes the mind, will, emotions, and actions. Giving thanks “with all my heart” therefore means involving your entire self.

A Christian gratitude practice has at least three connected parts:

  1. You decide to give thanks.
  2. You recognize something specific.
  3. You respond with appreciation.

These elements work together. Gratitude is more than an emotion that appears on its own. It is a choice that can shape what you notice, what you say, and how you act.

1. Gratitude begins with a decision

The words “I give you thanks” describe an intentional act. David does not say that he will wait until every problem has disappeared. He chooses to thank God in the circumstances he is facing.

This does not make hardship insignificant. It establishes that hardship is not the highest authority in his life. Fear may demand attention, and problems may continue to require practical action, but neither one deserves the final word.

Choosing gratitude can be as simple as beginning prayer with thanksgiving instead of immediately listing every concern. You may still bring those concerns to God. The order simply helps you remember that your problems are not the whole story.

2. Specific gratitude makes appreciation real

Vague gratitude can be difficult to feel. Saying, “I’m thankful for my family,” may be sincere, but identifying one particular act of kindness gives your attention somewhere concrete to rest.

For example, you might name:

  • A person who called when you needed encouragement
  • Strength to complete one necessary task
  • A promise from Scripture that comforted you
  • Provision you might otherwise overlook
  • A moment of peace during a demanding day

Specificity turns a general idea into a recognizable gift. Instead of rushing past ordinary blessings, you pause long enough to notice them.

3. Gratitude leads to expression and action

Psalm 138:1 continues, “I will sing your praises before the gods.” David’s thanksgiving is not hidden inside his thoughts. It becomes worship and public declaration.

This does not mean every expression of gratitude must be dramatic. A spoken prayer, a written sentence, a song, or a word of appreciation can all be responses of thanksgiving.

The important point is that gratitude moves outward. It influences speech and behaviour. When appreciation becomes visible, it can also encourage the people around you.

Gratitude Without Denying Pain

One of the most important features of biblical gratitude is that it leaves room for lament.

People experiencing illness, grief, exhaustion, or injustice do not need to pretend that everything is fine. David’s psalms include sorrow, fear, anger, and confusion. Honest prayer is not the opposite of faith. Bringing pain to God can be an expression of faith.

The instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is to “give thanks in all circumstances.” It does not say to give thanks for evil, injustice, or suffering as though those things are good. The distinction is important.

You can give thanks in a difficult circumstance without giving thanks for the harmful thing itself. You might thank God for his presence, strength, comfort, provision, or promises while still asking him to bring healing and justice.

This approach prevents gratitude from becoming a way to silence people who are hurting. It also prevents pain from becoming the only thing receiving your attention.

Lament and thanksgiving can exist in the same prayer. You may say that you are exhausted, afraid, or grieving—and then acknowledge that God remains faithful. That pattern appears throughout the Psalms.

Why Consistency Matters

Knowing that gratitude is helpful is different from practicing it consistently. A person may feel encouraged after writing one thankful sentence, but lasting change generally requires repetition.

A seventy-day practice can provide a clear structure. The goal is not to create pressure or measure spiritual worth by perfect performance. It is to make enough space for gratitude to become a regular part of daily life.

Many people stop after a week or two because they do not immediately feel different. However, habits often develop gradually. Research on habit formation has found that the median time for a behaviour to become automatic is about sixty-six days, with considerable variation depending on the person and the complexity of the behaviour.

This suggests that consistency matters more than a short burst of enthusiasm. Some practices become easier quickly; others take much longer. A daily gratitude habit may require patience before it feels natural.

The central purpose is not to force a particular emotional result. It is to train your attention and actions so that thanksgiving becomes easier to choose.

What Gratitude Research Suggests

Research discussed in the script connects gratitude with greater happiness, stronger relationships, and improved ability to deal with adversity. One study involving gratitude journals compared people who wrote about things they appreciated with people who wrote about daily hassles. The gratitude group reported greater optimism, more exercise, and fewer visits to the doctor.

These findings do not mean gratitude prevents illness or solves every problem. They also do not replace medical care, counselling, practical support, or honest conversations about suffering. They suggest that regularly noticing what is good may influence how people approach life and relationships.

The biblical and psychological perspectives overlap in one practical area: attention matters. What receives repeated attention can shape the way you interpret your circumstances and communicate with others.

When your words consist entirely of complaint, discouragement can spread. When you name specific gifts from God, you create an opportunity for a different pattern of thought and conversation.

A Simple Morning Pattern for Thanksgiving

A daily practice does not need to be complicated. A short, repeatable pattern can help you remain consistent.

Step 1: Begin with thanks

Start your prayer by intentionally thanking God. This may involve acknowledging who God is, remembering his faithfulness, or recognizing his presence.

You do not need to feel deeply emotional before you begin. The decision to give thanks comes first.

Step 2: Name one specific gift

Identify one thing God has done, is doing, or has promised to do. Avoid trying to list everything. One clear example is enough to make your gratitude concrete.

Instead of writing “I’m grateful for my family,” you might identify a specific conversation, act of care, or moment of support.

Step 3: Let appreciation become worship

Respond in a way that fits the moment. You might pray, sing, write, or quietly reflect. The response does not need to be public or elaborate.

The purpose is to allow gratitude to move from an idea into expression.

Step 4: Choose one response

Ask how you can respond to the gift you have recognized. Perhaps you will encourage someone, show appreciation, serve faithfully, or carry the reminder with you through the day.

This final step connects gratitude with action. Thanksgiving becomes something you practice, not merely something you think about.

How Shared Gratitude Can Influence Others

Gratitude is personal, but it is not isolated. One person’s testimony of thanks can interrupt another person’s cycle of complaint.

This does not require ignoring legitimate concerns. A group can discuss real problems while also remembering what God has provided. Shared gratitude shifts attention from only what is missing to what is present.

In a household, congregation, or small group, a short prayer of thanks may change the tone of a conversation. A written sentence in a journal may help you notice a blessing that would otherwise disappear into the day.

You do not need a long speech. Try one of these simple practices:

  • Speak a brief prayer of thanks.
  • Write one specific gift in a journal.
  • Tell someone what you appreciate about them.
  • Name one way you have seen God’s faithfulness.
  • Decide on one action that expresses your gratitude.

Small practices can become meaningful when repeated.

Giving Thanks in Every Circumstance

Over time, gratitude may become less forced and more familiar. The purpose is not to become unaware of pain. It is to develop a steady response that remembers God’s worth even when circumstances change.

The pattern is visible in the Psalms: grief is poured out honestly, yet praise remains possible. The writer does not have to choose between truthfulness and thanksgiving.

A Christian gratitude practice follows the same path. It acknowledges the hard thing, names a specific gift, and chooses to respond to God with trust and worship.

Begin with one sentence today. Thank God for one specific gift, even if the gift seems small. Then decide how you will respond. Over time, repeated acts of attention can make thanksgiving easier to choose.

Christian gratitude practice is ultimately about giving thanks with your whole heart—your mind, will, emotions, words, and actions. It does not erase suffering, but it can help you meet every circumstance with a clearer awareness of God’s faithfulness.

Christian Gratitude Practivce
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Heart Attack Recovery Story: Finding Faith, Hope, and Peace After a Life-Changing Diagnosis

​My heart attack recovery. After surviving a heart attack, I share my six powerful lessons I never want to forget about God and why gratitude is so important.

I share my personal experience surviving a heart attack and the lessons it taught me about God and gratitude.

This honest reflection explores the warning signs, the emotional impact of recovery, and six important reminders I want to carry forward. If you or someone you love has experienced heart problems, I hope this story offers encouragement and perspective.

This video is for personal storytelling and general information only. Always seek advice from a qualified medical professional for symptoms, treatment, or recovery guidance.

Watch Heart Attack Recovery: My Heart Attack, Gratitude, and 6 things I never want to Forget

Subscribe and listen to more podcasts https://revtrev.com/radio

Listen to Heart Attack Recovery: My Heart Attack, Gratitude, and 6 things I never want to Forget

Subscribe and set Notifications https://revtrev.com/tv

Read Heart Attack Recovery: My Heart Attack, Gratitude, and 6 things I never want to Forget

I was speaking on practicing the Sabbath. And I said something off the cuff. I said, "If you don't take a regular Sabbath, a Sabbath can take you. Since it happened to ancient Israel, what makes you think it won't happen to you?"

And I sat down after that message, right there in my chair, and I felt this menacing voice.

Clear as day. It said, "That's the last sermon you're ever going to preach."

Now, I don't have time for menacing voices. Jesus didn't argue with demons, so why should I?

I just brushed it off. That was my twelfth time I spoke in fourteen weeks.

My books were selling, people were telling others about my materials.

By the grace of God, I wasn't going to fall. Why should I worry?

The Heart Attack and Recovery

But a week later I had a heart attack.

And I had a lot of time to think about that menacing voice as I recovered.

And since the heart attack,

  • I’ve had three stents put in and surgery for two types of carcinoma.
  • I’ve had AFIB and Cardiac Ablation surgery,
  • I am being treated for fibromyalgia.
  • I get tinnitus that can shut me down for the day and
  • knots in my legs that can wake me up screaming.
  • I’ve lost a range of frequencies in my hearing, so I wear hearing aids.
  • My arms got too short and font on phones only get so big so I have to wear readers.
  • And I’ve had complications—and I don’t like complications—and
  • sat in so many waiting rooms and waited for so many diagnostic test and specialist. And
  • I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been rushed to emergency—although I think it’s only once the paramedics had to come.

Heart Attack Recovery and God

But I’ve also had an atheist grab me and ask me to pray so she can have my peace. I’ve had a nurse tell me “you’re far too joyful for someone in this situation.”

I’ve learned I can create safe space for people to self express their thoughts, feelings and emotions without judgment criticism and condemnation.

I’ve been able to tell people about the hope that I have in Jesus.

I've seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And because of all of that, there are six things I never want to forget.

All of us have something

All of us have gone through something that drops us to our knees.

The question is, how do you ENDURE when life makes less sense?

So I developed this tool. I call it the

How to ENDURE Tool

One letter at a time. And I want to walk you through it.

E: Ever remember to never give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

The first E reminds me to Ever remember to never give God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Jesus came to give us life and have it to the full. The enemy comes for the opposite reason.

So the question you can ask yourself is this: Am I giving God credit for what the enemy is doing?

Our emotions show us what we truly believe.

The lies we hold onto, they need to be surfaced.

You can't just treat the symptoms. You've got to get to the root.

And then let Holy Spirit replace those lies with the truth he reveals.

​N: Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline.

N reminds me to Never forget to treat all hardship as discipline.

Hebrews tells us that God disciplines those he loves as a father.

Now, discipline isn't punishment. It's training. It's preparation. It's him shaping you for something.

And Romans 8:28 says he works all things together for the good of those he’s called.

It's by the word of our testimony that we overcome. Never forget God's goodness to you.

Don't give God credit for the devil's work, and we see hardship as training. But how do you actually keep your peace through it?

D: Don't ever ignore that the God of all hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in him so I can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit

D reminds me - Don't ever ignore that the God of all hope fills me with all peace and joy as I trust in him so I can overflow with hope by the power of Holy Spirit

Nothing is more important than your peace. Peace is the emotion that needs to rule your heart.

I've had too many Christians tell me they are trusting God but they just can't stop worrying. And I want to say this gently.

Show me your peace and I'll know you're trusting God. Show me your joy and I'll know you're trusting God. Show me your hope and I'll know you're trusting God.

Because your emotions, they show you what you actually believe--Not what you say you believe--what you actually believe.

So if you don't have peace, here's what I've learned to do. Go back to the last place you had it. Where did you lose it? What happened?

And then confession and repentance, they work wonders to get it back. Repent and do the things you did at first. That's not just religious language. That's practical. That's how you find your way back.

U: Understand that I can worry about nothing but pray about everything with thanksgiving.

U in ENDURE reminds me to Understand that I can worry about nothing but pray about everything with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 and 7.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says giving thanks in all circumstances is his will for you.

In 2024 I did my first 70-Day Gratitude Challenge. Every day for 70 days I decided to give thanks, feel grateful for what I was giving thanks for, and show appreciation for what I felt gratitude toward. I was giving thanks with my whole heart.

We don't learn habits in 21 days. But in 21 days you'll be 10 percent happier. If you do three sets of 21—that's 63 to 70 days, the neural pathways realign.

Your brain actually rewires itself.

In 70 days you realign your brain so you can give thanks at all times.

And that's God's will for you.

So you guard your peace and you practice gratitude. But what do you do with the actual weight of what you're carrying? https://revtrev.link/thanks

R: Remember to cast all my cares upon Him because He cares for me.

R reminds me to Remember to cast all my cares upon him because he cares for me. I've learned something important.

Never leave a time of prayer without exchanging your problems for his peace. Don't just bring your list of requests and walk away still carrying them.

Exchange them. Pour out your heart to God. Trust Him with your requests and you'll have His peace.

After first gratitude challenge, I felt God calling me to seek him. And I didn't know what that would look like with my current reality. I mean, I've got all these health things going on. I'm tired. I can't physically do what I've done. How do I practically seek him in the middle of all this?

I eventually developed what I call the Our Father Prayer Rhythm. https://revtrev.com/thanks

I write down all my requests and I write down all the answers. Because let me tell you something. My God answers my prayers.

And when I see those answers written down, it builds my faith for the next thing.

Worry about nothing. Pray about everything with thanksgiving. That's the rhythm. That's how you live.

E: Embrace that He has showered me with His kindness along with all wisdom and understanding so everything is figureoutable

E stands for Embrace that he has showered me with his kindness along with all wisdom and understanding. Galatians 6:8. and so everything is figureoutable.

He not only prompts me to do his will, he empowers me to accomplish it. Every good work prompted by faith, he gives me the ability to do it.

I don't know what lies ahead. I really don't. But I know he's already there. I know I can trust him to prove himself good.

I know his favour is on me and his blessings overwhelm me. Even though in this world I will have trouble, I take heart knowing he's overcome the world.

That’s my Heart Attack Recovery Story

So that's the tool. ENDURE. That's my story and that's six things I never want to forget. I know I must endure and I want to encourage you to do the same.

I don't know what impossible situation you're facing right now. I don't know what lies you're believing or if you feel rejected or forgotten or completely alone.

Maybe you're dealing with a scary diagnosis. Maybe you're sitting in a waiting room right now wondering what comes next.

Maybe you got that phone call that dropped you to your knees and you're still trying to figure out how to stand back up.

I want you to know something.

God is for you. And if God is for you, who can be against you?

He is big enough for your questions. He's given you the gift of lament.

He is going to finish the good work he started in you.

He rejoices over you with singing. He quiets you with his love.

That's why I can say I have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Not in some far-off heaven someday—although I want to keep my thoughts on heaven. Right here. Right now. In the middle of the mess.

If you want to try the Our Father Prayer Rhythm or the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge, you can find them at the links below. They're free. They're tools. They've helped me and I think they can help you too.

heart attack recovery
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)