Celebrate the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to transform your mindset, boost positivity, and cultivate appreciation in daily life. Discover the journey today!
Gratitude is a powerful tool that can shift our perspective and enhance our well-being. One way to harness this power is through a structured practice, such as the Gratitude Challenge. Today, we celebrate the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge, an initiative designed to help individuals cultivate a deeper appreciation for life.
Problem
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in negativity and overlook the blessings that surround us. Stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction can cloud our minds, making it difficult to recognize the good things in life. This is where the Gratitude Challenge comes in. By committing to a period of focused gratitude, we can retrain our minds to notice and celebrate what truly matters.
Does This Really Matter?
You might wonder if participating in a 70-day challenge really makes a difference. The answer is a resounding yes! Research shows that practicing gratitude can lead to increased happiness, improved mental health, and stronger relationships. When we take time each day to acknowledge what we are thankful for, we create a positive feedback loop that enhances our overall well-being.
Scripture
Many are familiar with the biblical verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." This verse encourages us to appreciate both the highs and lows of life. By engaging in the Gratitude Challenge, we embody this spirit of thankfulness, learning to express appreciation even during tough times.
What If?
What if you dedicated just a few moments each day to reflect on what you’re grateful for? Picture yourself waking up in the morning, taking a deep breath, and listing three things that bring you joy. This simple practice can set a positive tone for your day and help you face challenges with resilience.
Imagine
Imagine keeping a gratitude journal for 70 days. Each day, you jot down something different that you appreciate—be it a warm cup of coffee, a kind word from a friend, or even a sunny afternoon. As the days pass, you’ll begin to notice patterns and themes in your life. Your perspective will shift as you start to recognize how much beauty and kindness exists around you.
My Experience for the Inaugural 70-Day Gratitude Challenge
I’ve said it for years, but I think I’ve only started to grasp it in the past 70 days…
Gratitude is a game changer.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I know what the studies show—if you feel gratitude and write it in journal in 21-28 days you’ll report being 10% happier. But I didn’t expect—choosing to give thanks, feeling gratitude for what I give thanks for and showing appreciation for what I feel gratitude for—to make such a profound difference in my life.
I’d tell people this is what I’m doing, “Well that’s easy”. I’m “The challenge is doing is every day for 70 days” and it was. By day 28 I was realizing I was laughing out loud more and singing worship songs when none were playing. It became fun…until around day 43. I got out of my rhythm.
My rhythm was to journal. I write down my thoughts to God. Present them to him so he can direct my steps or pour out my complaint to Him—yes those days still happen. Then I would write “What do you want me to feel gratitude for today?” And I’d meditate and read the Bible. Often in the meditation or Bible Reading I’d feel gratitude. If it didn’t happen, I’d be still and know He is God, then follow where my compassion led in my thoughts. Soon I’d feel gratitude, then I would write what I felt gratitude in the journal. Often it was for God or something He does, so my journal entry would naturally turn to praise because that’s how we show appreciation to God for who He is and what He does.
This is a rhythm I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.
I am changed and I am being changed through gratitude. It’s a game changer.
You can do your own 70-Day Gratitude Challenge any time. You can do it with any body. My material is decidedly Christian, but you can do with people of any faith or no faith. All you need to do is:
Every day for 70 days…
Choose to give thanks Feel grateful for what you give thanks for Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for
And figure out how you’ll do it as a group. The possibilities are endless. You do you. Daily phone call or group text; weekly check in through a video call on at a local coffee shop; celebrating milestones—like letting someone in when they indicate they want to be in your lane—with a group cheer or night out.
Thanksgiving is a great time to start.
Studies show that 3 sets of 21 or 63 - 70 days our brains move our conscious thoughts to the autonomic part of our brain. You’ll naturally feel gratitude in about 63 - 70 days - which is why the challenge is that long.
Also did you know we can’t hold anxiousness and gratitude in our minds at the same time? It’s either one or the other.
Choose Gratitude.
Want to be a beta-reader for the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book?
70 days to help you give thanks at all times in every situation.
Are you ready to transform your outlook on life? In Live LIGHT: 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Reflections, you will discover a powerful journey designed to cultivate gratitude and appreciation in your everyday experiences. This book invites you to embark on a 70-day challenge that encourages you to focus on the positives, no matter the circumstances.
Are you ready to take on the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge? Gather your materials, set your intentions, and dive in! Embrace every moment of this journey and pay attention to how it affects your outlook on life. https://revtrev.link/thanks
Taking part in the Gratitude Challenge not only enriches our own lives but can also inspire those around us. Let’s celebrate this journey together!
Read Testimony leads to gratitude because God is so good
As I pause and reflect on this day, I am overwhelmed by a profound sense of gratitude. The blessings and goodness have followed me all the days of my life, and for that, I am truly thankful. My boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. The LORD is good to me. I know that full well.
I will give thanks to You, LORD, with all my heart and will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. I will rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Your will for me. The LORD is good and His steadfast love endures forever!
Life hasn’t always been good, but He has put all things together for the good and made me more and more like Jesus through it all. I’m not there yet, but He will finish the good work He has started in me and gives me enough grace every day.
I’ve learned to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I present my requests to God. I cast my cares upon Him because He cares for me. In times of prayer, I exchange my problems for His peace.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. I will give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds on my behalf. He has made a way when there is no way and has opened doors that no one can open and shut doors no one could shut. He has performed miracles in my body and life. When I went through deep waters, He was with me. And when I went through high rivers, I was not drowned. When I walked through the fire of oppression, I was not burned up; the flames did not consume me. He has been so good to me!
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. I enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. By the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony, I will overcome. No weapon forged against me will prosper.
Today, I remember that the testimony of Jesus is prophecy. When I remember the good things He’s done, I invite Him to do it again. I make known His deeds among the peoples and testified of the good He’s doing in and through my life. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Come!
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How has God’s goodness and blessings followed me throughout my life, and what specific instances of gratitude can I recall?
In what ways have I experienced God’s peace and provision, especially during challenging times when I presented my requests to Him in prayer?
Reflecting on the testimonies of God’s faithfulness and miracles in my life, how can I invite Him to continue working and performing wonders in my present circumstances?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
My blessings from the Lord are as abundant as the stars
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” - Colossians 3:16 (GW)
Listen to My blessings from the Lord are as abundant as the stars
Read My blessings from the Lord are as abundant as the stars
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the countless blessings that the Lord has poured upon me. Each day, I am reminded of His faithfulness and love, as His blessings shine brightly in my life, just like the stars in the night sky.
He blesses me, and I am truly blessed. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Indeed, He is my guide, my protector, and my provider. In His loving care, I lack no good thing. He has blessed me abundantly with all that I need and more. I am filled with awe and thanksgiving for His provision in every aspect of my life.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. How could I forget the countless ways He has shown His love and grace? From the simplest joys to the greatest triumphs, His hand is evident in every blessing that I receive. It is a humbling experience to acknowledge and appreciate the goodness of the Lord in my life. God is so good! I will praise Him and thank Him with all of my heart.
I know every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. The blessings that I receive are not mere coincidences or random occurrences; they are gifts from a loving Heavenly Father who delights in blessing His children. Like the stars that shine brightly in the darkness, each blessing serves as a reminder of His unfailing love and grace.
My God supplies every need of mine according to His riches in glory. The Lord knows my needs even before I ask, and He graciously provides for me. Whether it is physical needs, emotional support, or spiritual nourishment, He abundantly provides from His limitless resources. The Lord holds my future in His hands, and His plans for me are filled with hope and goodness. Even when life seems chaotic or unclear, I can trust that He is working all things together for my good.
Today, I am reminded that my blessings from the Lord are as abundant as the stars. His thoughts for me are more than the sand on every beach in every ocean and every dune in every desert. Each blessing serves as a testament to His faithfulness, love, and provision.
They bring hope, joy, and a deep sense of gratitude within me. Just as the stars light up the night sky, so do His blessings illuminate my life with purpose and meaning. I will never cease to offer thanks to the One who blesses me abundantly. He is so good to me. I will be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How can I cultivate a greater sense of gratitude in my life for the countless blessings that the Lord has given to me?
In what ways can I align my desires and plans with God’s will, trusting that He will faithfully provide for my needs and fulfill the desires of my heart?
How can I deepen my trust in the Lord’s guidance and surrender my own understanding, allowing Him to make straight my paths and lead me in His perfect plan?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Reflecting on my travels, I often find myself in awe at the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Each new place I visit reveals another facet of His majesty, from the grandeur of mountain peaks to the depths of turquoise seas.
Travel has also taught me to trust in God’s guidance. I’ve learned to trust in the LORD with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. I know that in all my ways I honour Him, and He makes my paths straight. Sometimes my journey was fraught with uncertainty, but I am reminded to cast my cares upon the Lord because He cares for me.
On my journeys, I have also learned to appreciate the diversity of people and cultures. I am in awe that from one person He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
Every culture has its unique beauty and value, each one a testament to God’s creative power. He has put eternity in all of our hearts. My travels not just as personal adventures, but as opportunities to share God’s love with others. My travel experiences become a treasure trove of not just memories, but spiritual lessons, too.
Travel has taught me about God’s steadfast love, and faithfulness that spans beyond borders. I know that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. No matter where my journeys take me, I am assured that His love remains constant.
But perhaps one of the most profound lessons travel has taught me is gratitude. I’ve learned to give thanks in all circumstances; knowing this is God’s will for me. Whether I’m standing atop a mountain or navigating a bustling city street, I’ve learned to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for every experience.
Today, I treasure my travel experience and thank God for the opportunities I’ve had to experience more of His creation. I make the space to remember the awe and I am grateful.
Reflection Questions to ask Holy Spirit:
How can I cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude in my daily life, even when I’m not traveling?
In what ways can I further trust in God’s guidance during times of uncertainty?
How can I better use my travel experiences to share God’s love with others and fulfill the great commission?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” - Philippians 4:6 (GW)
I know I am truly blessed. I am grateful for the gift of life itself. Every single day I live has been carefully orchestrated by God. He places those who are lonely into loving families. He liberates prisoners and fills them with joy. I consider myself blessed because He has done these things for me.
I am blessed because God generously gives His righteousness to me. His gifts of love and favour overflow in abundance, all because of the freedom I have found in Jesus, the Anointed One. He has freed me from the burden, consequences, and control of sin.
And that’s not all. I am also infused with His explosive power from the majestic realm of His glory, which fills me with a profound sense of hope. He has revealed to me the immeasurable riches of His glory and favour, and my innermost being is flooded with supernatural strength. The life of Christ now lives deep within me, and His love has become the very foundation and essence of my existence. I cannot help but feel immense gratitude when I contemplate how God has deemed me worthy to receive His glorious inheritance, which He freely gives to me through His power and life.
As a result, I willingly share the blessings that have been entrusted to me with others. I lend a helping hand when a coworker is overwhelmed, and I take the time to listen when a friend is going through a hard season. I actively engage in volunteering within my community and extend my hospitality to both newcomers and old friends.
I make a conscious effort to focus my thoughts on what is good, right, and true. I avoid dwelling on past disappointments or comparing myself to others, as comparisons only steal away my joy and peace. Instead, I choose not to worry about anything but to pray about everything. I express gratitude to God in all circumstances, knowing that this is His will for me in Christ Jesus. I realize that in this present moment I possess everything I need to feel blessed because God has already blessed me with every spiritual blessing through my union with Christ.
Today, I take the time to count my blessings. I cherish each day as a precious gift entrusted to me by God. I am truly blessed.
Reflection Questions to Ask Holy Spirit:
How do You want me to spot blessings that initially look like hardships?
What is one blessing that I tend to take for granted?
What do I feel grateful for at this moment?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Discover how practicing gratitude helps your love for God and strengthens connections with others. Transform your relationships through appreciation.
In this message, we explore the profound connection between gratitude and love. Discover how incorporating gratitude into your daily life can deepen your relationship with God and enhance your love for others. We’ll share practical tips, personal stories, and insights into how gratitude transforms your perspective and strengthens your bonds with those around you. Join us on this journey to cultivate a heart full of appreciation and love!
Read the notes for How GRATITUDE Helps you Love God and Others More
When was the last time you stop to think about the unknowable love God? (Ephesians 3:16-19) I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. And I think I caught a glimpse of what Paul was talking about.
Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT) I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
How I caught a glimpse of unknowable love
I was talking with this guy and trying to find out about him. I asked if he was married. And he said “I was, but it’s hard to live with a woman…I got married again, back home in the Philippines, but it’s hard to be so far away.”
I shared with him, “Next spring I’ll be married for 30 years.”
“Wow he said, how can you stayed married for 30 years?”
I replied. “It’s not me, it’s my wife. She’s the one who has had to put up with me this whole time.” And I followed up with “You need to love your wife and let her love you.”
But that got me thinking about how much I loved Karen when we were engaged to be married. I thought I was at the top of my love. I was bursting. Then when we got married and lived together, I knew the love I felt for her before we were sharing a life was nothing compared to the love I we shared when we did life together.
Life has hardly been easy, but we’ve purchased homes together and had kids together and raised kids together. Buried love ones together. Married off love ones together.
I honestly would be lost without Karen. Cats can look after themselves for a while. Dogs will die if their owner leaves them to themselves. Karen is more like a cat. I’m more like a dog.
Anyway, I see how I had loved my bride, but had no idea how that love would grow, over the years, through the trials, in the celebrations, in the day-to-day of everyday and that is how we can know the love of God, which is unknowable. We can’t even comprehend forever and we have forever to experience His love. We can know His love now, but it’s nothing like how we’ll know his love later.
Today we’re going to talk about how to grow ever-deeper into loving God and loving others. Let’s turn to what John has to say about loving God and loving others.
1 John 4:1-20 (NLT) Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception. Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Can I pray so Gratitude helps?
Pray for help to love You and love others more and more.
So we’re talking about how to grow in love for God and others.
John makes it clear the we can love each other because God first loved us. Love that comes from God to us and then flow through us back to God and others is perfect love. I want you to realize that we can’t love like God wants us to love without His love first coming to us to flow through us back to God and others.
Do you need more convincing gratitude helps?
To live loved means we love even our enemies
We don’t take revenge… Romans 12:19 If our enemy is hungry we feed them or thirsty we give them something to drink… Romans 12:20 We bless those who curse us… Luke 6:28 We pray for those who persecute us… Matthew 5:44 If someone strikes one cheek, we turn the other to them… Matthew 5:39 We represent our Father who is love and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous…Matthew 5:45
We can’t do that without His love coming to us and flowing through us back to him and others. We can try…and we’ll be frustrated. We’ll feel taken advantage of and at the bottom.
But when God’s love comes to us and flows through us…that is what we’re created for. It’s our natural state of being. We are loved so we live loved.
How do you Live LOVED?
L - Leave pretence behind Psalm 62:8 O - Operate out of who God says you are Ephesians 2:10 V - Value revelation Romans 8:15-17 E - Embark on having well-healed wounds Psalm 147:3 D - Draw ever-deeper into His Love Ephesians 3:14-19
We need to draw ever-deeper into His love to show love like that to others.
Does it really matter gratitude helps?
That’s a great question. I’ve found 7 reasons why it’s essential.
7 Reasons Why We need to Grow in love for God and others
Spiritual Fulfillment Matthew 22:37
Positive Relationships Matthew 22:39
Emotional Wellness 1 John 4:19
Moral Guidance 1 Corinthians 13:1
Personal Growth Galatians 5:22
Betterment of Society 1 Corinthians 16:14
Betterment of the gathered church Matthew 18:20
Think about how gratitude helps
Think about what it would be like to be in healthy relationships with people who continue to grow in love with God and others?
Some of you don’t have to. You have them. You are them. That’s awesome. But if you don’t have people in your life who intentionally want to grow in love for God and Others, imagine what it would be like to have those people in your life.
Can you imagine what it feel like to trust God is going to finish the good work He’s started in someone, just like you know He’s going to finish the good work He’s started in you, because you see their love for God and others continue to grow?
The Problem
What’s the most natural way to grow in love with God and others?
That’s a great question. I am so glad you asked.
I need to preface what I’m going to tell with the understanding that I am on Day 18 of a 70-Day Gratitude Challenge where every day for 70-days I
Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what I give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what I feel gratitude for – Action Every day for 70 days I give thanks with my whole heart. Find out more at https://revtrev.link/thanks
And in this process I am learning….
Gratitude Grasps Grace
What do I mean by that?
I understand grace FROM God and grace FOR others better, so I can respond and grow in love for God and others more.
Gratitude Grasps Grace
What is Grace?
Most of us have heard acronyms to remember what GRACE is…
God's Riches At Christ's Expense God's Redemption At Christ's Expense Gift Received At Christ's Expense God's Righteousness At Christ's Expense Great Redeemer And Compassionate Empathizer God's Rescue And Compassion Extended
We’ve trivialized grace in an attempt to grasp it. All of them focus on part of an aspect of grace.
But they don’t help us grasp grace like gratitude does.
Gratitude grasps grace
The best definition for grace that I’ve ever heard is:
Grace is God’s empowerment to do the things he wants us but we’re not able to do on our own.
What do I mean by that? What does God want us to do that we can't do without His help?
By grace we are saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 By grace we are justified. Romans 3:24 By grace we are sanctified. 1 Corinthians 15:10 By grace we are empowered. 2 Corinthians 12:9 By grace we have the gifts of the Spirt. Romans 12:6 By grace we persevere. Hebrews 13:9 By grace we have unity. Ephesians 4:7 By grace we have forgiveness. Acts 15:11 By grace we have hope and assurance. Romans 5:2 By grace we have sustenance in trials. 1 Peter 5:10 We have grace in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 We have grace in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 Grace teaches us. Titus 2:11-12 Grace keeps us from sin. Romans 5:20
Everything God wants us to do, that we can’t do on our own. His grace is sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Why is it important that gratitude grasps grace?
We naturally respond to grace with love. It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.
The more we know and experience grace, the more we’ll grow and know love from God that we can pass on to God and others.
And GRATITUDE grasps grace.
How to you draw ever-deeper into His love?
That’s another great question, I’m so glad you asked.
When we grasp grace with GRATITUDE we grow in love with God and others.
Gratitude grasps grace. We naturally respond to grace with love. It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). If we want to grow in love for God and others we need to better experience grace and so we start with gratitude.
Grasp Grace with GRATITUDE Tool
G - Give thanks with your whole heart. Psalm 86:12 R - Remember to FEEL gratitude. Colossians 3:15 A - Appreciate what you feel gratitude for. Psalm 9:1-2 T - Turn to prayer with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 I - Integrate thanksgiving with worship. Psalm 100:4 T - Thrive as gratitude connect you to His presence. Psalm 95:2 U - Understand peace through giving thanks. Colossians 3:12-15 D - Decide to give thanks IN all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 E - Enjoy giving thanks FOR things naturally. Ephesians 5:18-20
Let’s unpack this.
G - Give thanks with your whole heart.
Psalm 86:12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Giving thanks is a decision.
The Hebrews understood the whole heart to be the seat of our decisions, emotions and actions. So we need to decide to give thanks, feel gratitude and show appreciation.
It is a decision to give thanks to God with your whole heart. It’s a decision that becomes easier with training and an emotion we need to embrace, as well as an action we need to do.
Giving thanks to people can just be the polite thing to do, but people know when you express heartfelt gratitude. You know when it’s given to you. What makes you feel better —a quick “thank you” because of social convention or the warm embrace of genuine gratitude? I know what I appreciate and I know what I want to learn to naturally share.
Gratitude helps. Gratitude is a choice.
Am I giving thanks with my whole heart?
R - Remember to feel gratitude.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Feeling gratitude is important. There was a study that had people feel gratitude for a specific things and then write what they felt gratitude for in a gratitude journal https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/gratitude_journal
Two things were important - they needed to feel grateful and write it down in a journal. What they were testing—unbeknownst to them—was giving thanks with their whole heart. People had to decide, feel and do.
In the study, people reported being 10% happier in 21 days.
Does that sound impressive? Well if your income doubled in 21 days you’d be 10% happier, so it is significant.
Feeling gratitude takes away the rote-ness of form of social contention or personal habit of giving heartless thanks. It revolutionizes our relationship with God and revolutionizes our relationship with others. Because it places us in that present moment and we are fully there.
I’m telling you feeling gratitude is amazing.
Gratitude helps. Gratitude puts us in the moment.
Do I feel gratitude for what I decide to give thanks for?
A - Appreciate what you feel gratitude for.
Psalm 9:1-2 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvellous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Showing appreciation is the third part of giving thanks with your whole heart. It puts action to your decision and emotion.
Appreciation to God is praise. It’s a natural response to thanksgiving.
Appreciation to others is showing them in a way that they’d appreciate as appreciation. What do I mean by that? Remember Proverbs 27:14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!
Gratitude helps. Gratitude needs an action.
Do I show appropriate appreciation for what I feel grateful for?
T - Turn to prayer with thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
How can you worry about nothing, pray about everything the thank him for everything?
We need to start by understanding we can cast our cares on him BECAUSE he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) Gratitude helps us to understand that he cares for us. With gratitude we see how he’s done it in the past. We see how he’s done it for others. We see grace at work in our lives and others.
So when we go to prayer we can exchange our problems for his peace.
When I go to prayer for others, sometimes I can plead to God on their behalf. Sometimes that’s appropriate intercession. Often it’s me asking God “If you can do anything…” As if I can plead my case properly something would be done. That’s not how we should ever intercede. Thanksgiving for who they are and what God is doing in their life, radically changes prayers for others. I can know that since God is going finish the good work He’s started in me until the day of Christ Jesus, He will finish the good work He’s started in them until that day as well. I start speaking blessing instead of cursing.
Paul had it right: Worry about nothing. Pray about everything. Thank God in all things.
Gratitude helps. Gratitude empowers our prayers.
Do I exchange my problems for His peace?
I - Integrate thanksgiving with worship.
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
Heartfelt gratitude for who God is and what He has done leads us to worship that is done in spirit and truth. We need to praise God with our whole heart and thanksgiving helps us with the decision, the emotion and the action.
With gratitude, we remember; with thanksgiving we celebrate the now, with appreciation we look forward with hope and anticipation. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.
Worship changes our perspective. Gratitude changes our perspective. It does it for God. It does it for others. Let me give you an example.
When my wife comes home and tells me about her day, I can see it as impinging on my telling her about my day, OR I can thank God that she trusts me to hold a safe space for her to self-express her thoughts, feeling and emotions without judgement, criticism or condemnation.
Thanking God for her, even in that moment changes my approach. Gratitude changes my perspective.
T - Thrive as gratitude connect you to His presence.
Psalm 95:2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
God is always with us. It’s easiest to be with Him when we’re thankful to him and for others. Gratitude allows us enter his presence.
Try it next time you feel that you can’t stop and feel His presence. Do this:
Be still. Be grateful…and soon be in awe.
Gratitude connects.
Gratitude helps us to connect with each other - it fosters positive relationships (1 Thessalonians 5:11) enhances empathy and understanding (Colossians 3:15), promotes forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32), creates a positive atmosphere when we gather (Philippians 1:3), encourages acts of service (2 Corinthians 9:11).
Gratitude connects us all.
Gratitude helps. Gratitude connects.
Do I connect with God and others with thanksgiving?
U - Understand peace through giving thanks.
Colossians 3:12-15 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
If you want to grow in love with God and Others, you’ll want to pursue peace with God and peace with others.
You have peace with God because of Christ’s work on the cross (Romans 5:1)
For each other we need to seek peace and pursue it.
One thing I’ve learned we can do is to: Ask Holy Spirit what He loves about them. It helps you to get a new appreciation for them. Then show them that you appreciate them.
Peace rules in our heart. Gratitude protects our heart.
Gratitude helps. Gratitude protects our peace.
Do I seek peace and pursue it?
D - Decide to give thanks IN all things.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
We are commanded to give thanks in every situation. It’s God’s will for us and good for us.
God’s will is for us to give thanks in all circumstances. It not only encourage us, it encourages the people around us. I’m not talking about the un-heartfelt declaration of thanks, I trust you understand.
When we give thanks with our whole heart - our decision, our emotion and our action - Gratitude changes the reality around us.
Gratitude helps. Gratitude changes the reality around us
Am I choosing to give thanks in all circumstances?
E - Enjoy giving thanks FOR things naturally.
Ephesians 5:18-21 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
When we are continually being filled by the Spirit we will be…
Speaking to one another with songs and hymns and Spiritual songs Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always to God the Father for everything Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ
Giving thanks FOR everything is the natural response for being continually filled.
And as we are filled we treat each other really good.
Gratitude helps. Gratitude flows naturally.
Do I naturally give thanks FOR all things?
Wrap up so Gratitude Helps
We grow in love for God and Others as we experience more and more about grace and gratitude grasps grace.
So let GRATITUDE help you to remember…
G - Give thanks with your whole heart. Psalm 86:12
Gratitude is a choice.
Am I giving thanks with my whole heart?
R - Remember to FEEL gratitude. Colossians 3:15
Gratitude needs to be felt.
Do I feel gratitude for what I decide to give thanks for?
A - Appreciate what you feel gratitude for. Psalm 9:1-2
Gratitude needs an action.
Do I show appropriate appreciation for what I feel grateful for?
T - Turn to prayer with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6
Gratitude empowers our prayers.
Do I exchange my problems for His peace?
I - Integrate thanksgiving with worship. Psalm 100:4
Gratitude changes our perspective.
Do I let gratitude change my perspective?
T - Thrive as gratitude connect you to His presence. Psalm 95:2
Gratitude connects.
Do I connect with God and others with thanksgiving?
U - Understand peace through giving thanks. Colossians 3:12-15
Gratitude protects our peace.
Do I seek peace and pursue it?
D - Decide to give thanks IN all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Gratitude changes the reality around us.
Am I choosing to give thanks in all circumstances?
E - Enjoy giving thanks FOR things naturally. Ephesians 5:18-20
Gratitude flows naturally.
Do I naturally give thanks FOR all things?
Gratitude grasps grace. We naturally respond to grace with love. It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). If we want to grow in love for God and others we need to better experience grace and so we start with gratitude.
Full circle…
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Next step so gratitude helps…
Will you pick up the gratitude challenge?
I’ve set it 70 days because three sets of 21 days forms new neural pathways in your brain and you will naturally give thanks in all situations. You don’t need my help, but I do have tools to help you.
Every day for 70 days, give thanks with your whole heart. Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Read more or sign up for the free course >>> revtrev.link/thanks
Application so Gratitude Helps
I want you to practice giving thanks for your whole heart.
Play music. - Enter His gates with thanksgiving and courts with praise
Quiet yourself. - Be still and know He is God.
Ask Holy Spirit : What do you want me to feel thankful for today?
Read The beauty of creation makes me feel so blessed
This is my Father’s world. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day, they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. The beauty of creation makes me feel so blessed.
I recognize that there is much darkness in the world–war, hate and anger are real. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Behind every bit of darkness is a shimmer of light waiting for the right moment to break through. The darker the night, the brighter my light.
The beauty of creation makes me remember my Father takes care of the flowers and the birds, so I can trust Him to take care of my needs. I am amazed at the smallness of our planet in a huge and expanding universe as much as I’m in awe of the course of an electron around the nucleus of an atom. He created it all, and He holds everything together. The fact He cares for me is almost too much to contain.
When I get overwhelmed with negativity in the news or I get that news that drops me to my knees, I know I can pour my heart out to God in lament. Then I turn my thoughts to praise and can do that easily by considering the beauty of creation and the pleasure of the Creator.
Today, I see the beauty all around me. I thank my God because of it. I say to my soul, my Father’s world is a wonderful place!
Reflection Questions to Ask Holy Spirit:
What in creation do You want me to be in awe with today?
How do You want me to embrace the beauty of the world when I am attacked with negativity?
Do You want me to lament something I’m harbouring in my thoughts?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Learn to choose to feel blessed, even in difficult times, without toxic positivity. Don't ignore your emotions, but learn to lament and turn to praise.
I choose to feel blessed despite what I am going through
“My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!” - Psalm 42:4 (GW)
Listen to I choose to feel blessed despite what I am going through
Read I choose to feel blessed despite what I am going through
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for yet I will praise Him, my Saviour and my God.
My perception of reality is often more important than reality itself. I respond to what I feel is real. I can’t downplay my feelings. My emotions tell me what I truly believe. But I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which He has called me and the riches of His glorious inheritance to His holy people. I choose to feel blessed despite what I am going through, because I know I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
But I need to have Holy Spirit reveal the truth that will replace the lies I am believing.
I don’t ignore the most brutal reality I am facing and I don’t put on a mask and pretend it will all go away. Instead, I use the Psalms of Lament to pour my heart out to God. I find a Psalm that feels the way I do and camp out on it until Holy Spirit speaks truth to the lie and I have peace and joy return to my heart. I do this mainly in private, and it will most often turn to praise.
How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me.
Since I live in the light, I must be clearheaded, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. Because this hope will not lead to disappointment, since God’s love has been poured out into my heart through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to me. I am joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Today, I will find something I feel grateful for regardless of what I am experiencing. I will take my lament to the throne room of God and pour out my heart to Him. I choose to feel blessed despite what I am going through.
Reflection Questions to Ask Holy Spirit:
Am I able to pour out what I’m feeling to You?
Do I trust You’ll show me the lie I’m believing?
Do I believe You’re working all things together for the good?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
Learn the importance of how to graciously accept others blessing you, fostering connection, gratitude, and positivity in your relationships and daily life.
It is more blessed to give than it is to receive. I do good and share what I have, as these acts are pleasing to God. I support the needs of others and open my home to strangers. When I can help someone in need, I don’t hold back. I find joy in refreshing others and feel blessed when I can be a blessing to them.
I also allow others to bless me. When they offer, I allow them to serve me. Each time someone lets me know of their appreciation, I am thankful. I express gratitude to my God for the people in my life and for the kind gifts they have given me. I receive compliments with humility and thankfulness, considering each one as a thoughtful present. When someone shows kindness towards me, I appreciate their gesture wholeheartedly.
I don’t reject the kindness shown me and I don’t assume I deserve the kindness or blessing, but I also don’t deny someone the chance to bless and be blessed. So I eat the meal placed before me with thanksgiving and don’t rob the chance to connect. I let them serve me. When someone gives me a physical gift, I am always sure to respond to the spirit of the gift with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation.
Although I may sometimes feel tempted to brush off praise, I remember that most people are offering it authentically. They truly want to encourage me. A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. So instead of deflecting their affirmations, I receive them with humility and gratitude.
Today, I am gracious when receiving compliments. I am thankful each time someone gives me a compliment. Each day, I practice saying, “Thank you” to praise, instead of deflecting it. I kindly accept others blessing me.
Reflection Questions to Ask Holy Spirit:
Do I graciously accept blessing and compliments and allow people to help me?
Am I appreciating and not taking advantage of everyone who offers to help me?
How can I show more humility and heartfelt gratitude when someone compliments me?
Next Steps
Unlock a happier you with our FREE 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Course—transform your mindset at your own pace! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Align your thoughts with God’s thoughts for you. Discover profound insights with our 70-Day Gratitude Challenge book, ebook, and audiobook—your wonderful guide to cultivating appreciation and joy! Learn more - https://revtrev.link/thanks
Enhance your journey with the Live LIGHT 70-Day Gratitude Challenge Journal, the perfect companion for the 70-Day Gratitude Challenge to inspire daily reflections and growth! https://revtrev.link/thanks
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks with Your Whole Heart
The Live LIGHT 70 Day Gratitude Challenge
Every day for 70 days … Choose to give thanks – Decision Feel grateful for what you give thanks for – Emotions Show appreciation for what you feel gratitude for – Action Learn to give thanks with your whole heart Check out the Live LIGHT with your Whole Heart course today - https://revtrev.link/heart
