Day 3: by Juno Smalley
In the context of the United States, our Thanksgiving holiday was less than a week ago. We know that having a thankful heart occurs if gratitude is more than a season, a day, or an endless buffet of wonderful food and hanging with family and friends. Thanksgiving is a mindset that is born in our hearts. Having a thankful heart of gratitude is a spiritual Holy Habit (discipline).
There are numerous benefits associated with cultivating a heart of gratitude. Here are just a few:
One key Holy Habit that helps to prepare your heart for both Christmas and beyond is to develop a sincere heart of gratitude. You don’t have to be grateful for what specifically has happened to you; rather, it’s important to be grateful for the reality that Jesus is with you in the midst of all your circumstances, pain, confusion, fear, concern, or hurt. It’s in our gratefulness we find hope through Jesus. It’s takes intentionality and often it is not easy…oh but it’s worth it!
TUESDAY’S SONG:
In a culture where it is easy to focus on disappointments, and ‘things’ that we don’t have, this song Gratitude will help create a heart of gratitude in you. Personally, just hearing the beginning notes of the song helps take my heart to a good place…
TUESDAY’S PRAYER:
Lord, amid a season filled with ‘wants’ and ‘needs,’ help me to remember that experiencing hope is built on a heart of gratitude.
Lord, help me to take time to click through posts, flip through calendars, look at photos, and search my heart as to the people in my life, at work, and in my sphere of influence who may need your hope and provisions this season. May this journey of remembering to have a heart of gratitude help me create time for you, so you can help me create time and space in my heart for others. May I be an instrument that shares your hope with those in my life.
Lord, help me to look at the interruptions in my day and disruptions in my plans as holy moments. Help me to remember that every moment is a holy moment orchestrated by you so that I can be your vessel, so my family, friends, and colleagues can catch a glimmer of the HOPE that only you can give.
Lord, help us as your church to continue to be your church - focused on partnering with you to make a difference in the people's lives that you created and that you love. Give us a heart of gratitude. AMEN
There are numerous benefits associated with cultivating a heart of gratitude. Here are just a few:
- Gratitude opens the door to more relationships
- Gratitude improves physical health
- Gratitude improves psychological health
- Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression
- Grateful people sleep better
- Gratitude improves self-esteem
- Gratitude increases mental strength
One key Holy Habit that helps to prepare your heart for both Christmas and beyond is to develop a sincere heart of gratitude. You don’t have to be grateful for what specifically has happened to you; rather, it’s important to be grateful for the reality that Jesus is with you in the midst of all your circumstances, pain, confusion, fear, concern, or hurt. It’s in our gratefulness we find hope through Jesus. It’s takes intentionality and often it is not easy…oh but it’s worth it!
TUESDAY’S SONG:
In a culture where it is easy to focus on disappointments, and ‘things’ that we don’t have, this song Gratitude will help create a heart of gratitude in you. Personally, just hearing the beginning notes of the song helps take my heart to a good place…
TUESDAY’S PRAYER:
Lord, amid a season filled with ‘wants’ and ‘needs,’ help me to remember that experiencing hope is built on a heart of gratitude.
Lord, help me to take time to click through posts, flip through calendars, look at photos, and search my heart as to the people in my life, at work, and in my sphere of influence who may need your hope and provisions this season. May this journey of remembering to have a heart of gratitude help me create time for you, so you can help me create time and space in my heart for others. May I be an instrument that shares your hope with those in my life.
Lord, help me to look at the interruptions in my day and disruptions in my plans as holy moments. Help me to remember that every moment is a holy moment orchestrated by you so that I can be your vessel, so my family, friends, and colleagues can catch a glimmer of the HOPE that only you can give.
Lord, help us as your church to continue to be your church - focused on partnering with you to make a difference in the people's lives that you created and that you love. Give us a heart of gratitude. AMEN
Posted in Advent Devotional 2022