A Spirit of Gratitude

A Spirit of Gratitude

The Spirit of Gratitude is a cultivated developed attitude for the Christian (or anyone) towards God, creation and people.  In essence, it is an expression of ‘thank you’ though it may take many forms.

SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE CHARACTERISTICS AND BENEFITS:

These are:

1.      An attitude of gratefulness and thanks towards God, His creation and people.

2.      Joy, happiness and prosperity.

3.      It produces a healing and physical rejuvenating in the body as well an improvement in the 
  person’s emotions.

4.      A deep awareness and clarity of vision of situations/people/themselves.

5.      A healthy awareness of Trust and Love, which is returned by others in abundance.

6.      The ability to thank God for EVERYTHING-especially when he/she is challenged, sad,
   angry or disappointed- knowing that God will bring a positive outcome and His will for the 
   person concerned.

    

The Spirit of Gratitude is an attitude worth acquiring and nurturing daily.  Some time ago, I read a book called ‘Sleep with Bread’ by D Linn, S Linn and M. Linn.  In essence, it invites the reader to ask two simple questions immediately before going to bed viz,

• For what are you most grateful today?

• For what are you least grateful for today?

Why immediately before bed? - The authors say: 

‘whatever I am thinking about when falling asleep continues to be processed when falling asleep during the night.  If I go to bed grateful and expect to awaken saying ‘thank you’ the gratitude bathes my unconscious and I awaken more grateful.  But if I go to bed resentful, I fill my unconscious with more resentment and awaken ready to strike back.  The longer I sleep with a grateful heart, the more I heal my unconscious.” (Pg 11)

In prayer, in the presence of God, I have asked these questions, and over a span of time it has developed and nurtured my attitude of gratitude and has aided physical and emotional healing.I also find that when I have backslid on this, my attitude becomes dark. To overcome this, I earnestly purse the gift of gratitude by applying these two above mentioned questions each night for a week initially and then a month.  By the time the month is up, my sense of gratitude has re focused.  

A gratitude journal has also been a useful tool in combating negativity and other different struggles.   Tracking it is reassuring in times of doubt and darkness.  A hymn which conveys this in its lyrics is ‘Give thanks with a grateful heart’ composed by Henry Smith.  (from ‘Scripture in Song’, Vol 3). This song has also helped me develop a spirit of gratitude.