At this time of year many focus on gratitude. It is the season of Thanksgiving, and yet isn’t every day a time for Thanksgiving?!
I find myself reflecting on Jesus’ actions before he fed the crowd of 5000 men plus women and children. When Jesus inquired about the amount of food in the disciples’ possession, they revealed a lunch-sized portion from a young boy (Luke 6:9). They brought to Jesus five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples gave Jesus what they had.
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied,” (Mark 6:38-42)
I wonder if the crowd experienced confusion as Jesus instructed them to sit in small groups? Or, if they noticed butterflies in their stomachs as He raised the bread and fish to heaven in gratitude? As they sat on the green grass, perhaps the multitude watched in bewildered perplexity about how this simple meal was going to satisfy each of them? Jesus lifted the meager offering towards heaven and gave thanks. Jesus expressed His gratitude for the provision of food.
No one anticipated the miracle that would unfold just moments following Jesus’ thanksgiving. Jesus stopped and demonstrated a grateful posture. The miracle wasn’t contingent on Jesus’ prayer of gratitude, however, a miraculous multiplication and growth occurred after He gave thanks.
Grateful – feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; the quality of being thankful.
What if, by God‘s design, when we express gratitude to God and thank Him, something grows within us? We may not experience miraculous growth in material things like bread and fish, but we grow spiritually with Jesus. Research shows that just five minutes of gratitude, three times a day for a month, actually changes our outlook on life and grows the nervous system to function in joy. Joy, a fruit of the Spirit, grows with gratitude.
Nevertheless, there are times when I don’t feel grateful and giving thanks seems challenging. Maybe you’ve felt that way as well? The ups and downs of life overwhelm us and our hearts struggle with the challenges and confusion of living. Yet, the apostle Paul says “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice he doesn’t suggest that we give thanks only when life is good. He commands that gratitude is imperative to the Christian journey. Scripture directs us not to give thanks to God for everything that happens, but to give thanks to God in every circumstance. Gratitude is an attitude that transcends the situations of life.
God works and moves within our souls when we express thankfulness and live with a posture of gratitude. God miraculously transforms and grows us as we engage grateful hearts.
I’ve taken the word GRATEFUL and created an acronym for some of things for which that I am thankful.
G – God – I thank God for His promises, eternal gifts, and grace.
R – Rest – I thank God for the ability to pause throughout the day to be in His presence, as well as sleep at night.
A – Aches – I thank God for both physical aches and emotional aches because they remind me of His redemptive healing.
T – Truth – I thank God for the Bible which strengths my inner being and the Holy Spirit who dwells within me to guide me in all Truth.
E – Energy – I thank God for the energy He provides physically, relationally, emotionally, and spiritually.
F – Family and Friends – I thank God for family and friends both near and far; they are gifts and connections from God.
U – Uniqueness – I thank God for the unique ways He has created me to be different from others. I thank Him for my body, mind, heart, passions, and abilities.
L – Life – I thank God for the gift of life which leads me to pray for friends and others around the world who live in the midst of war, political hardship, and suffering. I thank Jesus that He came to give us life to the full (John 10:10).
Take a moment to create your own acronym with words like grateful, thankful, gratitude, or thanksgiving. Have fun expressing your thanks to God by yourself or with family and friends. Live grateful today and every day. 🍁
This week – – –
Reflect. Think about Jesus’ gratitude before both the feeding of the 4000 (Matthew 15:29-39) and the 5000 (Mark 6:31-34). Be curious about what He might have said to the Father in His words of thanks. What would it have been like to watch Jesus pray in this circumstance? How does looking to Jesus impact your posture of gratitude?
Request. Ask God to multiply joy in your life as you live with a posture of gratitude. Thank Him for His faithfulness.
Receive. Wonder with God about His response to your grateful attitude. Marvel over His response to you. Notice His posture, viewpoint, and presence. Take in God’s extravagant love for you. Receive His joy into your inner being.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
1 Chronicles 16:34 – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Matthew 15:24-27 – “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Kalogria Press and Abigail Miller. Christian Gratitude Journal: Grateful Thankful Blessed – 5 Minutes a Day, for 90 Days. 2021.
Chris M. Coursey. The Joy Switch: How Your Brain’s Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships–And How You Can Activate It. Charlotte, NC. 2018.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Jordan Feliz. Praise God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llTruhsfYbg
Housefires. I Thank God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIhhLLHY65E
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
December 13 – Breathe Retreat, Littleton, CO