Gratitude and peace have been pretty illusive the last few years. In fact, we’ve had plenty of reasons to be anxious – worldwide pandemic, racial strife, supply chain issues, and rising costs. Plus, on a good day we live in a culture that breeds anxiety. Rampant self-centeredness, materialism, and entitlement all contribute, ramping up our worry and discontent. Hanging on to peace is like trying to catch rain with a colander.
God knew we would struggle with anxiety and worry. It is the default setting for our sinful nature. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Not even when our lives are filled with trials and struggles. The God of peace not only offers us peace, He tells us how to experience it.
First and foremost we must enter into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As long as our sin separates us from God, we can never have true peace. But, praise God, Jesus has broken down the “dividing wall of hostility” through His death on the cross, making eternal peace with God possible (Ephesians 2:13-16).
Yet even Christians still struggle to experience peace in our daily lives. We allow the worries of this world to rob us of the peace that is ours. In Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi, he addresses this problem with practical advice for turning away from anxiety and embracing God’s peace. (See “4 Steps to Embrace God’s Peace” for a breakdown of Philippians 4:4-13.)
Benefits of a Thankful Attitude
In addition to prayer, a disciplined thought life, and reliance on God’s strength, Paul highlights gratitude:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Recently, in preparation for a teaching event, I did a little research on gratitude and its effects. There have been lots of secular studies done on the impact of purposeful gratitude. Every study I saw cited positive effects on mental health, emotional well-being, and physical health.
Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits of gratitude cited by these studies:
- Mental – reduces depression, stress and anxiety, and helps overcome trauma
- Emotional – breaks hold of toxic emotions, improves relationships, reduces materialism and self-centeredness
- Physical benefits of gratitude – promotes better sleep, decreased pain, increases energy, and activates the area of the brain that controls appetite, sleep, and metabolism
Although none of these studies mentioned God or how thankfulness affects our spiritual well-being, they still confirm what God’s Word teaches:
God created humans to flourish under an attitude of gratitude.
In addition to the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of gratitude, purposeful thanksgiving also has profound spiritual effects:
- Takes our focus off our struggles
- Fosters awareness of God’s provision and activity around us
- Build reliance on God’s future provision
- Ushers in God’s incomprehensible peace
A Few Practical Tips to Foster Gratitude
Paul also wrote that our lives should “overflow with thanksgiving” for all God has done (Colossians 2:7). This phrase implies we should have a constant attitude of gratitude that expresses itself in thanksgiving as we go about our day. While this is easier said than done, there are some things we can do to begin to form a habit of gratitude:
- Don’t give up – Studies show it takes a minimum of 4 weeks of purposefully and persistently practicing gratitude before it produces real benefits. This awareness can keep us moving forward!
- Gratitude is self-producing – Studies show that the more we express, the more we will feel. So, give gratitude a fair chance. Eventually the attitude will multiply!
- Journal it – These studies encouraged participants to keep a gratitude journal. Writing our thanksgivings not only requires us to be intentional and purposeful, but it also creates a record we can review on the days when we are struggling to find something to thank God for.
Let’s try a little gratitude right now! In the comments below, voice a thanksgiving to God!
Kathy, I totally agree. I’ve been using the Month at a Glance section of “Prayers of My Heart” to journal 3 things I’m grateful for each day. It’s become a quick glance reminder of God’s blessings. It’s such a joy to thumb through the months and be reminded of His faithfulness.
Hi Debbie, thanks for stopping by! And thanks for sharing your wonderful resource with us!
thank you kathy for your encouagment sending these readings it. is great trevor
Thankful for Gods care for me.
I’ve been hospitalized for 7 days with pneumonia & not being able to breathe. I’ve never been sick like this before, but I see Gods hand on me every day. He is so faithful!!
Janice, I am sorry to hear about your illness! But praise God, He is making Himself known to you!
I am struggling with financial and health issues, but I am very grateful to God that I am able to reach out, use resources available to me and seek assistance.
Amen!
I’m grateful for my sweet husband of nearly 50 years who loves me even when I’m not so lovable. He has been here come rain or shine. I thank God for him as we were so young when we married, many were not so sure we would make it. I truly believe God put us together.
You are blessed! But so is Don!
First, I’m thankful for God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace. I’m grateful to God for leading me through my medical and financial difficulties, even when I get discouraged. And I’m thankful for my wonderful adult son who gives me encouragement when I’m feeling down, and is always there for me and his father. And thankful to God for keeping my husband and I in our home even though we have had many hard financial times since both my husbands and my health issues have worsened and pushed us both into an unwanted, early retirement within three years apart. I have many things to be thankful for, although I’m like anyone else, I do get discouraged at times until I’m reminded of all that I have to be thankful for. Sorry this is long, but I could go on and on with the gratitude that I have to the Lord. Even though I don’t have much in the eyes of others and there are things that I feel are still needed, such as repairs around our house, I do have all the essentials that I need and that’s what matters most.
Ruth, thank you for sharing your story with us! It is a beautiful testimony to our faithful God!
I am grateful for this study. I was talking 2 the Lord abt how easy it is to be anxious these days. Its 2020 bt its life in general where material wants among soo mny other things makes us feel anxious etc. Well for me I must catch myslf sometimes. Esp when you want to see ur plans being establish. I asked the Lord what my study should be on and He said peace and gratitude. I took my bible and I also typed it in google and I saw this coming up. What a blessing!!
Thank you for this timely article. Trying to start the day, when I first open my eyes, thanking God. When angry, depressed, fearful, or happy trying to remember to be grateful for all the blessings God has given. Being grateful and thanking God for His blessings Lifts me up. I can feel my happiness/calm levels rising.
On Nov 1st I decided to make a FB post daily on what I am Thankful for. So glad I did this activity this year. I have tried hard just for this month to not repeat anything for the 30 days of this month. I think I will do this again beginning in January and will not worry about repeats for 2021.
I am so thankful to God for giving me Godly parents who laid a strong spiritual foundation for me. I strayed for many years after losing my dad to cancer but my praying mother never gave up on me.
Praise God for praying mothers!