While you're waiting for God to do a new thing in your life, it's important to cultivate a mindset of gratitude and trust. By focusing on the blessings and provisions you have already received, you can shift your perspective from concentrating on lack to focusing on all the reasons you have to be content.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said [in Deuteronomy 31:6],
'Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)
A grateful and trusting perspective allows us to fully surrender our desires to God and believe that His timing and plans are perfect because He is good, and He loves us.
But you may be wondering what gratitude is, exactly. Let's take a look at a basic definition and consider how it fits in with our understanding of who God is and how we were created to relate to Him.
What Is Gratitude?
Gratitude can be defined as a deep feeling of appreciation or thankfulness towards someone or something. It is a positive emotion that arises when we acknowledge the good that God or others have done for us, or even when we just take the time to notice the positive aspects of our lives.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, NIV)
It is not just about saying "thank you." Rather, it is a deep, sincere feeling that comes from within. It is an attitude of recognizing your blessings. Gratitude is often accompanied by a sense of humility (realizing that we are not owed anything by either God or anyone else) and reciprocity (desiring to give back in some way, whether in word or in action).
When we express gratitude, we're not just doing something kind for someone else. We're doing something truly good for ourselves. Cultivating a heart full of gratitude offers numerous spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health benefits.
In this blog post, I'll cover some major gratitude benefits.
Better Physical Health
Research has shown that cultivating a sense of gratitude can have numerous physical benefits. A regular gratitude practice can reduce stress, boost immune function, and enhance our cardiovascular health.
When we feel grateful, we shift our focus from the negative aspects of our lives to the positive ones. This shift in perspective helps to lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can have detrimental effects on our bodies if they remain elevated for extended periods of time. By practicing gratitude, we counteract the harmful effects of stress to create a more balanced, relaxed inner state.
Another of the physical health benefits is the positive impact gratitude has on our immune function. Our immune systems play a vital role in protecting us from illness and disease. When we express gratitude, our bodies produce higher levels of antibodies and other immune cells that help fight off harmful pathogens. Additionally, gratitude has been linked to lower levels of inflammation in the body, which is associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes. By cultivating gratitude, you can strengthen your immune system and reduce the risk of developing these conditions.
Grateful individuals have been found to have lower blood pressure and healthier heart rhythms compared to those who do not practice gratitude regularly. Expressing gratitude may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of heart disease and other related conditions. By incorporating gratitude into our daily lives, we can improve our heart health and overall physical well-being.
These physical health effects may translate over to emotional health, as well.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22, ESV)
Increased Happiness and Well-being
By practicing gratitude, you can experience a surge in happiness, improved relationships, and an overall enhancement in well-being.
Gratitude has been shown to have a significant impact on increasing happiness levels. When you express gratitude and appreciate the positive aspects of your life, you experience more happiness and contentment.
Research has found that practicing gratitude can lead to a more positive outlook on life, reduced depression and anxiety, and increased satisfaction with one's circumstances. By focusing on what we are grateful for, we shift our attention away from negative thoughts and emotions, which allows us to cultivate a more positive mindset.
These positive changes are foundational in building a stronger faith, as they align with the joy and mental health God desires for us.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:6-8, NIV)
Healthy Perspective Shifts and Relaxation
As mentioned above, a daily gratitude practice can significantly improve your awareness of the good in each situation, or the blessing each day brings.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV)
Practicing gratitude can transform your viewpoint, shifting your outlook from a negative one to a positive one. This mental shift cultivates contentment, inner peace, and a deeper connection with God and other people around us by enhancing our sense of humility, appreciation, and openness to spiritual reality.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV)
This sort of focus promotes the release of the "love" hormone, oxytocin, within the body. This release produces feelings of calmness, trust, and an overall sense of well-being. Oxytocin acts as a natural stress reducer, helping us to unwind and relax. As a result, it is linked to improved sleep quality, reduced anxiety levels, and enhanced social bonding.
Enhanced Connection and Compassion
Gratitude deepens our sense of connection with others and the world by nurturing feelings of compassion and empathy. This is, in large part, due to the work of oxytocin and its sister "feel-good" hormones, dopamine and serotonin. In a way, these hormones can help us to live out Jesus' greatest commandments.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV)
As mentioned above, when we are grateful, we are more likely to recognize and acknowledge the goodness of God and appreciate the kindness of others. Being grateful for the support and love we receive will help us be more inclined to extend that same kindness and compassion to others. This not only strengthens our existing relationships, but it also fosters a sense of compassion within us that flows outward.
In this way, gratitude can create a positive ripple effect of love, connection, and compassion.
Protection During Times of Trial or Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6 talks about the spiritual warfare we will face as people who follow the Way of Jesus, and it talks about the armor we will need to put on in order to withstand the attack.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV)
One of the best ways to "put on" this armor is to simply thank God for its availability to us, one piece at a time. Thank Him for the Truth and the ability to know it (see John 14:6 and John 8:31-32). Thank Him for the righteousness we have received from Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Thank Him for the good news of the restored relationship we now have with God through Jesus (see Romans 5:1). Thank Him for the gift of faith that He gives us, along with His free gift of grace (see Ephesians 2:8). Thank Him for salvation and for His Word, which gives us the spiritual food we need to grow into our new life in Christ (see 1 Peter 2:2).
Making Gratitude a Habit
Practicing gratitude can significantly impact your overall well-being and happiness. In future posts, you'll learn how to make gratitude a regular part of your routine, as well as how expressing thankfulness can increase your faith in God. It's important to examine this topic in more depth because it can truly have transformational effects on your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
But why wait? Begin right now by thanking God for something. Anything. Get your gratitude practice started today, so you can experience the many health benefits it brings.