Looking at some key NT passages…

We notice the common thread:
(1) there is a connection between experiencing the peace and joy of Christ,
(2) the “be thankful” statement in 1 Thessalonians 5 is an imperative – a Divine command, and,
(3) in every season, the Apostle Paul found reasons to be thankful, and turned that into praise to God…he had incredible gratitude.

Gratitude is the secret to happiness. There is mounting evidence to confirm and support this, resulting from the branch devoted to the subject of happiness – and although it was once called “The Science of Happiness,” it has now been coined as “The Science of Gratitude.”

Don’t take anything for granted. Our culture teaches us entitleMEnt, and nothing kills gratitude more than a spirit of entitlement – thinking that we are owed something. You may not have a lot of things, but you still have much to give thanks for.

A couple of things to help us live a life of gratitude.

• Remember
  It takes time to change the neuropathways in our brains, so do whatever it takes to remember to be thankful.
  Discuss it in your relationships (everything in the Kingdom works better when done in relationship), write yourself post-it notes, and/or set watch timers as reminders for yourself.
• Don’t Just Think It – Write it or Say It!
  Research shows that writing something or saying something out loud deepens that thing and helps reinforce it and make it more concrete. Turn those written and/or spoken statements into prayers

Use the attached pdf or your own notebook to record what you are thankful for each day for the next 21 days.