5 Ways to Make Gratitude a Habit

Gratitude is one of the easiest ways to express or recognize an act of kindness. It is an attitude of appreciating the good things in our lives, no matter how big or small it is. It is something we show in response to receiving something.

The concept of Gratitude is one that appears often in the Bible. Personally, one thing I’m learning is that every believer is called to give thanks to God for everything - good or bad, that happens in our lives. This is why one of my favourite verses on gratitude and thanksgiving is found in the book of Psalms 95:2 says, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms”. 

God wants us to be grateful for all the gifts he has given us. This is to let us know that everything we have is a gift from God. 

Gratitude qualifies you for another act of favour from God. It commits God to do more and also brings incredible multiplication in your life. The rule is simple - “anything you thank God for appreciates”, and there is evidence to back this up. For example, in the Bible, the five loaves of bread and two fishes multiplied in the hands of Jesus after he gave thanks to God. Five thousand people were fed and there were about 12,000 baskets left over. This alone is more than a sign that you should be grateful to God for the little that you have received and God will surely cause an increase.

Why Should I be grateful to God?

Well, if you’re asking this question, let me try and give you some possible answers. Here are several reasons to be grateful to God:

1. God is the source of all that is good in our lives. The Bible says, " Every good and perfect gift comes from above". ( James 1:17)
2. God brings peace in the midst of chaos.
3. God gives a purpose to our lives.
4. God gives hope for the future.
5. God gave us the greatest gift, salvation , through Jesus Christ.
6. God answers our prayers.
7. God provides for our every need.

While our team at the New Man Movement may (in the near future) consider writing an article on reasons why you should be grateful to God, to be honest, I personally believe if you can count all that God has done for you, then it’s not God. If you must find reasons to thank God and then start to make a count, then there may be something wrong with your thanksgiving. However, it is important to make gratitude your daily habit because it glorifies God and also positions you for more blessings. 

That said, here are a few ways to make gratitude a habit:

1. Start and end each day with a prayer of Gratitude 

A prayer of gratitude should be focused on giving thanks to God and it should also come from the heart. It also helps to start your day with the right foot. Prayer is one effective way to cultivate a grateful heart , by expressing thanks to God for his blessings and for the many opportunities that he gives us. Prayers of gratitude reminds us of God's goodness and his faithfulness towards us. Psalms 107: 1 -3 says, " Oh give thanks to the lord, for he is good , for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the lord say so , who he had redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from west , from the north and from the south." 

You can effectively start and end each with a prayer of gratitude by:

• Setting aside a quiet time in the morning and evening to thank God.
• Finding a quiet place where you won't be interrupted or disturbed.
• Focus on God's presence when you start praying.
• Give thanks for the blessings in your life , big or small . Also reflect on the things in your life that you are grateful for ; such as your family, friends, career, business etc.
• End your thanksgiving with ' Thank you lord'.

2. Keep a Gratitude Diary and Write in it Daily

You can make a list of everything you are thankful for in a diary and then you can turn it into a prayer of praise. This will keep you on the right track and also help you to be conscious of the goodness of God in your life. This will also be a part of your daily routine. Psalm 9:1 says, " I will give thanks to you , lord, with all my heart ; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds ". It is important to be intentional about giving thanks to God. 

By writing daily in the gratitude diary, you’re keeping track of the good things God is doing in your life, and as a result, you will experience a change and begin to bring forth good fruits.

3. Memorize Bible verses about gratitude.

Memorizing scripture is good for you spiritual because it brings peace to your thoughts and comfort to your worries and also grows your relationship with Jesus Christ. There are several verses from the bible about gratitude;

• 1 Thessalonians 5;16 - 18, " Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".
• Colossians 2:6- 7, " As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught , abounding in it with thanksgiving ".
•  1 Chronicles 16: 34, " Oh give thanks to the lord, for he is good,; for his steadfast love endures forever.
• 2nd Corinthians 9:15, " Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift". 

When you train yourself to memorize these verses, you are reinforcing the idea of gratitude in your mind.

4. Express gratitude to Others

Be sincere in your gratitude to people. God honors the expression of gratitude you show to people from a big gesture to a small kindness. A simple ' thank you ' goes a long way in appreciation. 

By expressing gratitude to others we are following God's will for our lives. While you can read our full article here on the benefits of expressing gratitude to others, we’d list some of them here which include the following:

• It Improves relationships
• It Strengthens trust and connection.
• It Increases self esteem and self worth.
• It Enhances productivity and creativity… and much more.

5. Stop Comparing yourself to Others

Comparing yourself to others can be detrimental to your sense of gratitude. It can make you feel inadequate, envious, or resentful . Instead of comparing yourself to others, try to focus on yourself and appreciate the progress you have made . When you are caught up in comparison, it is hard to feel grateful .You have to remind yourself that everyone's journey is different , and that you are unique and valuable . When you keep this focus, you will be able to maintain a daily act of gratitude. There is no need to measure yourself against others . You are the only person you need to be better than.

We can show gratitude towards God by serving and loving others . It is however a powerful way to show gratitude. When we help others and put their needs before our own , we are practicing a form of gratitude that goes beyond words or thoughts. It is a way of showing that we value and appreciate the people in our lives . We are acknowledging the fact that we are blessed with the ability to serve and love.

Conclusion

In a world that is busy and chaotic, it can be easy to forget to appreciate God for the good things He does in our lives. To make gratitude an effective habit, it is important to be intentional about practicing it every day. Build up gradually and be patient with yourself . Also remember that even when there a difficult times, there are many things to be grateful for. 

Gratitude glorifies God, brings contentment, puts us squarely in God's will, brings peace, draws us closer to God, deepens our faith in God, leads to joy, defies the lies of the devil, and ultimately guards your heart against envy. Gratitude puts God first and empowers your prayer life. Choose to live your life in gratitude and also count your blessings everyday.

For Further Reading:

Psalms 100:1-5, Psalms 117:1-2, Psalms 91:14-16, Psalms 104:1-end, 2nd Samuel 6:21-23, Romans 15:8-10, Psalms 34:1

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