An Attitude of Gratitude – Count Your Blessings!

Have you heard the old expression, “oil and water don’t mix”?

Here’s one you don’t hear often . . . How about “cooking” oil and cars?

You heard that right.

A few months ago, the local news reported that a truck carrying cooking oil started leaking its cargo along a well-traveled roadway.

A six mile stretch of road was closed down as several cars started slipping and sliding through the oily mess.

The cleanup took hours. Observers joked that the area smelled like ”fried chicken”.

Joking aside, some things (like leaking oil and cars) just don’t mix.

But, how about gratitude and attitude?

That depends.

A “bad” attitude can send a person right into a never-ending ditch of self-pity.

An attitude of gratitude does just the opposite.

Gratitude is having the right attitude of thankfulness, no matter what our circumstances.

Gratitude is more than a passing trend or a means of glossing over our very real-life struggles and challenges. It is a conscious act of cultivating awareness of the good things in life, expressing this gratitude to others, and creating daily practices that reinforce these positive observations and actions. These efforts result in tremendous benefits for the individual who practices gratitude. – Dr. Monica Vermani, Psychology today.¹

Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude

From the old testament to the new, the Bible affirms the faith of grateful hearts.

In Psalm 107, commentators assert that the psalmist is referring to Israel’s deliverance from exile. But, as believers today, we can rest and rejoice in the revealing of God’s character in these psalms and throughout the entire Bible.

God is good.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His mercy is everlasting. – Psalm 107:1, (NASB).²

Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed,
called in one body, rule in your hearts;
And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15, (NASB).³

Even for what might be considered the smallest of blessings, it’s important to express thankfulness to our Creator.

Choosing an Attitude of Gratitude

What’s a good way to reflect an attitude of gratitude?

You can start by writing in a journal.

I’m sure you’ve heard of gratitude journals.

They are an excellent way of recording your hopes, dreams, and answered prayers.

It’s rewarding to look back on those writings later and reflect on God’s grace and providence in your life, especially during more challenging times.

Bible teacher, the late Warren Wiersbe, eloquently described expressions of “gratitude” this way:

An attitude of gratitude is a wonderful weapon against unbelief, disobedience, a hard heart, and a bitter spirit. Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s be thankful for what we do have, because God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him . . . We can’t control the circumstances of life, but we can control how we respond to them. That’s what faith is all about, daring to believe that God is working everything for our good even when we don’t feel like it or see it happening. – Warren Wiersbe, Moody Bible Church.⁴

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¹ Quotation from Dr. Monica Vermani. Courtesy of Psychology Today online magazine, “Understanding and Practicing Gratitude.” Accessed December 30, 2023.  Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202312/understanding-and-practicing-gratitude

² Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

³ Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

⁴ Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) quotation from the Give Thanks Commentary, [2015] Courtesy of Precept Austin. Web. Accessed 30 December, 2023.