Practice Gratitude In Your Everyday Life

5 Simple Ways To Practice Gratitude In Your Everyday Life

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” – Psalm 100:4-5

Let’s be honest! Practicing gratitude gets hard sometimes, especially if we are struggling or dealing with heartbreak, loss or hardships in life. However, having a grateful heart must be one of the characteristics that every Christian should have because God loves a grateful heart and practicing gratitude can help us have a positive outlook in life. A grateful heart is also our weapon against our enemy that wants to destroy our happiness and our faith in God. 

Here are 5 simple ways to practice gratitude in your everyday life.

Find something good everyday.

“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 4:8

Start your day with a positive affirmation and don’t focus on your problems, instead find something good around you. There are many things that we should be thankful for in life, such as:  our family, friends, home, church, pet, job and all the creation of God. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” – Job 12:7-10. Sometimes God gives us difficulties just to remind us that He is our comforter and our true source of strength and happiness. So, if you feel lonely or frustrated, find God through praying and reading the Bible and you will know how blessed you are to have Him in your life.

Share your blessings.

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16

We are blessed by God with so many things and, one way to practice gratitude is to share your blessings with others. Lend your hand to the people in need — donate some clothes or volunteer in your community. “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” – Proverbs 19:17. You can also host a Thanksgiving gathering in your home and share your blessings through giving small tokens such as wine, cookies, scented candles or other thanksgiving gifts for your guests.

Follow the will of God in your life.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” – Ephesians 5:15-17

Be grateful to God because He made you and he breathed you life. Thank Him for what He has done and honor Him every day — listen to Christian music, worship Him, commit yourself to the Lord, take care of your body and fill your heart with gratitude. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Recognize His Presence in your life and do what God wants you to do.

Write thank you cards to your loved ones.

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” – Ephesians 1:15-16

Express your gratitude through writing notes and sending cards to the person you loved and valued. Write encouraging words or verses to your friend who is facing a difficulty in life, say thank you to your mom for cooking your favorite dish or greet someone on their special day. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:9-10. Appreciate every person around you including your pastor, brethren in Christ, classmate and coworker — tell them that you are mentioning them in your prayers and you are grateful for their existence in your life.

Count your blessings.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17

Find time to count your blessings every day — start a gratitude journal and write all the things that you are thankful and grateful for, the big and little things that make you happy.  “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!” -Psalm 31:19. Thus, you can also write your favorite quotes or Bible verse in your gratitude journal or you can make a scrapbook, collage art with all the photos of the things that you are thankful for; and put it in a frame. 

Practice gratitude as much as you can everyday and make it a part of your life. Reflect and meditate on God’s blessing, smile often, be positive, spend more time with your loved ones and focus on the good things. Enjoy life and give glory to God with your life — sing praises to Him, pray to Him and recognize Him always. “I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.” – Psalm 89:1