Gratefulness

The reading this week: Monday: Deuteronomy 5-7. Tuesday: Deuteronomy 8-10. Wednesday: Deuteronomy 11-13. Thursday: Deuteronomy 14-16. Friday: Deuteronomy 17-20. Saturday: Deuteronomy 21-23. Sunday: Deuteronomy 24-27.

I feel in a world where we have everything at our fingertips we often focus on what we don’t have instead of being grateful for what we do. Grateful means a feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness, being thankful. The way it is used in the Bible it means to give goodness and grace to others, as the giver has first received from God, meaning extend the joy of receiving to others and God through gestures of kindness and goodness.

Do you focus more on what you have or don’t have? I have found when I let my sinful nature take its course and I tend to focus more on what I don’t have. And let me tell you I am anything BUT thankful. When I focus on what I DO have, I am so much more joyful.

Matthew 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Gratitude (heart) check right there. Which kind of treasure are you focusing in on? It definitely effects the amount of thankfulness we have. I want to focus in on what God has given me and what He has promised me.

Our reading lately has been on the Israelites in the wilderness. In Numbers 11:4-6, they focused on what they didn’t have. In the big scheme you think it’s better than being slaves but in the moment we have all done this. We focused on what we didn’t have anymore and that shifted all our thoughts on the good parts in a bowl of mostly very bad. Their hearts were far from being filled with gratitude.

Make a list of the blessings and promises you do have and read them often. Choose to have a grateful heart! Only then can you share exactly who He is.