Gratitude: Practice the Habit

by Marilynn Chadwick

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

I’m learning to become more intentional about being thankful. But sometimes I find myself drifting back into an attitude of discontent. So I find I must regularly renew my resolve to give thanks in everything. To make a thankful heart a permanent habit.

I’m curious. Do you experience God in a fresh way when you practice gratitude? I think we’d agree that giving thanks to God is a discipline we should do every day. In that respect, it’s different from the spiritual discipline of fasting. When a person comes off a fast, they gradually start eating food again. So, should we gradually allow ourselves to become grumpy again? Of course not.

The Bible teaches us that giving thanks is to be a continuous mindset—much like prayer. So it makes sense that right after the Bible teaches us “to pray without ceasing,” it reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

To form any habit, we must become fully persuaded of its value. Here are a few reasons why giving thanks is worth our best effort:

1. Giving thanks to God is a powerful counterattack to discontent. It’s easier to replace grumbling or complaining with thanksgiving than to simply try to “not gripe.”

2. Gratitude feeds our faith. I discovered that thanksgiving can stand up under a fiery trial. Giving thanks seemed to use less energy than praying for a specific end—this can be a good thing when you’re going through a hard place.

3. Giving thanks helps us roll our burdens into God’s hands, which, in turn, calms our anxious heart.

Having a thankful heart makes us more aware of our surroundings and more in tune with God’s blessings. We become more expectant, watching for him to show up. Giving thanks can also make us more sensitive to the needs of others—opening the door to holy conversations—a blessing in themselves.

We don’t have to understand all the reasons why giving thanks is a good thing in order to experience its benefits. Forming a habit of giving thanks can change both our attitude and our actions. We may discover that giving thanks is a form of worship. It connects us to the Lord and places our focus squarely upon him. And when we focus on Jesus, it changes everything.