It is said that one of the easiest ways to change our attitudes is to practice gratitude. Scripture tells us that giving thanks is the gateway to worshipping God:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5
I cannot begin to count the number of people I know who are carrying a heavy burden of some sort. These burdens weigh us down and keep us from experiencing the peace and joy that God promises to us. It's hard for you and I to embrace all that God has for us when our arms (and hearts) are already filled with worry, fear, guilt, shame, etc. We need to lay those burdens down first, but how?
Here's an exercise I have learned. It's so simple even a child can do it.
Each day for the next seven days, write down on a piece of paper or a white board, five things you are thankful for. It doesn't matter how small or great the blessing. It could be as simple as a delicious meal or as powerful as a good report from the doctor. Here's the thing: You are not allowed to repeat any of them.
By the end of the seven days, you will have identified 35 unique blessings in your life AND more importantly, you will have practiced an attitude of gratitude. I promise that you will begin to rediscover the joy of God's mercies that are new every single day.
Give it a try. You won't regret it. You'll be grateful you did it. In fact, write that one down to start off your list for today.
You're welcome.