Luke 17:11-19
Be like the one, the foreigner; don't be like the 9.
"Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—" Psalm 103:1-2
"rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:7
The more we know the more we should be grateful. The world needs to see joyful Christians.
There was a gratitude study done by Berkeley in 2017. They took three groups of students who were having issues with mental health (Anxiety, depression, etc). One group was the control group -- they didn't do anything different. The second group got together weekly to discuss their problems. The third group was instructed to write a letter each week, a letter of gratitude to someone. The results of the study were thus:
1. Expressing gratitude unshackles you from negative emotions.
2. Even if the letter wasn't sent the act of writing the gratitude letter was enough to cause positive change.
3. Gratitude benefits takes time -- but it gets better and better.
4. Gratitude has long-lasting effects on the brain an dhow it works. It changes our physical brains.
Practice gratitude regularly. When we do this we will see a real difference in our entire lives.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2
Live the life of gratefulness. Daily! Must be deliberate or it won't happen.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 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. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17
Change yourself, change your world. In our prayer and despair, we are grateful.
"Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18
Start from the fact that we are blessed.