What does it mean to live a grateful life? I think that there are times that being thankful and being grateful are slightly different. Yes, they are words that are often used interchangeably, but that doesn't mean they don't have some unique qualities, too.
Saying "thank you" is good manners. Good manners is practically a lost art in some places, but it never out of style. Being thankful is good and very personal. Gratitude is personal, too, but it feels bigger, broader and wider. We can keep our thankfulness private, but gratitude seems to demands a response.Thankfulness gives birth to gratitude. When gratitude is full, it must be poured out and shared with others. Maybe, gratitude is more of an action word. We can enter His gates with thanksgiving in our worship, but when we finish our prayers, living gratefully is a response.
This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. -Hebrews 12:27-29 (ESV)
I adore the phrasing "our God is a consuming fire." Fire spreads. It is warm and it is contagious.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. -Colossians 3:16 (NLT)
We look for sunglasses that have UV filters to protect our eyes. The light is all good, but the UV rays can be damaging. Filtering sunglasses allow us to see more clearly and protect from what could be damaging to the eye. God's ways can be a little overwhelming, like sun. We cannot comprehend all that He is.
God is good, all the time, but he allows some things to happen that we don't understand, as we can't see His big picture. Gratitude, when applied daily, acts as a filter. We can sift through the tough stuff and keep the good that comes of each day in our hearts to strengthen us for the journey.
This week, I have been reminded again that he is a mighty God who breathed eternal souls into us, and longs for us to find our way to the throne of His mercy, forgiveness and grace.
Today, I am grateful gratitude acts as a filter.
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