Thankfulness Lived Out

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

One morning as I was spending a little bit of quiet time with God, I read through Ephesians 5, which in my Bible has the header, “Living in the Light.” As I thought about all the ways we are to imitate God, in conjunction with writing a book about gratitude, I asked myself the question, What might God be inviting me into as I consider both gratefulness and imitating him?

I sat quietly for a few moments, just thinking about what that would look like, practically, in my life. An answer of sorts came to me. Being grateful pulls me out of myself, enabling me to see others’ needs while also being thankful for all that I have. It allows me to love others and take steps to show that love.

When I focus on others, not only can I be a blessing to them, but I myself am blessed. I am encouraged. I feel love. And when I start each day from a place of thankfulness, I can live out that thankfulness by loving others while simultaneously feeling gratitude to God for all that I have. It’s an invitation to remember what God has done for me, and because of that truth, my life will spill love and kindness on those around me.

But the opposite is true as well. If I am ungrateful, I have a hard time noticing all that God has provided, and I am unable to see the needs of those around me. I am focused only on what I don’t have or how someone has wronged me. This is not how I should live as a follower of Jesus. We ought to live a life of love, following Christ’s example. The easiest way to do this is to wake up each morning, remembering all that we can be grateful for that day.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

What might God be inviting you into as you consider what gratefulness looks like when it is lived out? Think of one practical way you can show love to others.