Grateful

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Gratitude

When good things happen to us, we feel happy, joyful even.

But these feelings do not last.

Developing gratitude can release and transform us.

We can intentionally build our 'gratitude' muscles, developing habits of 'giving back' thanks to God.

Rather than peaks of happiness when good things happen to us, and troughs when they don't, we can learn to see all of life as gift.

God is always with us. Our prayers are always answered, even when things can seem to be going badly.

To Christians, gratitude is a deepening sense of outflowing love. A love that breaks free of our own worries and concerns. Outflowing love towards God and others.

Why do you want to build your gratitude muscles? Share with God what you’re feeling instead right now, and why you want to change this. You can say it aloud, write it in your journal, draw a picture to represent it, or simply think about it. How would you like God to respond?

Here's a simple prayer, say it with me

God, my head is filled with many things. The fears and anxieties seem to be taking over.

Help me instead to remember the things that are going well, and the people in my life I love.

Help me to build my gratitude muscles. Amen.

Philippians is a letter written to a Christian community in the Roman town of Philippi, who were dealing with internal conflict.

Read these words from chapter 4 to yourself, slowly. They were written by Paul (a leader in the early church) to encourage the community in Philippi. Think of ten things you’re anxious about. Can you turn these anxieties into prayers of thanksgiving?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”