Is it easy to show gratitude? Yes and no. It can be easy as just saying “Thank you”, but its hard to actually feel thankful deep down inside. gratitude extends beyond the “Thank you”. That’s were we need to tap into today. Feeling thankful and grateful on the inside so that it can present itself on the outside.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

In ALL circumstances means exactly what it says. In the good times, in the bad times, when I’m doing well and when I am feeling sick, when my world is collapsing and when my world feels perfect. When we start our prayers, we should come to the Lord with gratitude first before we make out petitions know. Do you think that God wants recognition from His children? Would you want someone to be appreciative of you? Say thank you to you? God wants the same.

Thank you God for the breath in my lungs.

Thank you Lord for the roof over my head, the clothes on my back, the ability to move my hands, the ability to move my legs, the ability to form words and having the right mind.

Thank you God for not consuming me when I was in sin,. Thank you for not letting my situation take me out. Thank you for giving me grace to see this day. Thank you for the new mercies you have given me today. Thank you for the favor you have granted over my life.

Thank you God for the job I have. Thank you for allowing me to stay afloat when times are feeling hard. Thank you for the community OR thank you for being my community when no one was around.

I could go on and on and on. You have to think and don’t think superficially, think DEEPLY. There’s a lot to be thankful for and simply saying thank you can help you see what all you have been blessed with. The grace, the favor the mercies that have been granted over your life. Yes, it may be hard to be grateful ad thankful during a hard time. I know the feeling all to well. How can I be thankful when it seems lie everything is just going wrong. My life is crumbling and all I can do is beg for help. Still thank God. Do not take what you already have for granted because it can always get worse or be taken from you. If you have a heart that shows gratitude, you will see that what you are begging for is minuscule to what you have already been granted with.

I am in a period in my life where I want to be stable with a stable job and steady income where I can pay all my bills and have some left over to enjoy myself. For the last couple of years it seems like I have been in the same cycle . Get a job that I thought would set me up great and I am still struggling. I have had breakdowns where I am having a on-way fight with God. Asking God “why do I have to go through this? Why can’t I get to a place where i am not struggling? Why can’t I break this ongoing cycle and be blessed with the job that gives me exactly what I need to survive? Why do I have to work 2 jobs and bust my butt to make ends meet? When is it my chance to get blessed? When is it my turn?” I asked so many questions and it seemed like God didn’t answer any of them. I heard silence. I felt frustrated like man I just cried out to you and you don’t want to respond? I was having a one way fight but I had to think. Think and assess. I felt now that that’s what He wanted me to do. Think and assess.

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”

I started to think about the past. Think about how I am crying about money but I have never lacked. I have never had my lights cut off, never been evicted, never been without food, never been homeless. I had just enough to make it all work. It seemed like I really didn’t have anything , felt like bills were piling up and felt like I could not escape. I was able to handle the things I needed to handle and get on a good track. Not saying I am where I want to be but I have been BLESSED. I am stable. If you have lacked or been in a place where you have lost something, was there an opportunity waiting for you? Was there a blessing waiting in the midst of the chaos?

I have been able to make ends meet period. I have been blessed to still have breathe in my lungs and still be able to think properly. I have been blessed to make it this far. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE AFLOAT. Sometimes you have to think about the GOOD versus the BAD. Yes, I know that it’s hard to do it. I’ve had to force myself to think beyond the issue that is transpiring around me. I am building a heart of gratitude so that I can show God thanks even in the midst of mess.

Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”

Thank you God for never taking your hand off me. Thank you for providing me with opportunities. Thank you for never letting me drown. Thank you for never letting me go.

James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

The trial and tribulations are meant for a reason. There’s a reason why you need to go through and you have to “Keep it Pushing” and show God appreciation. Now you can also thank Him in advanced. “Thank you Lord for what’s to come. For what the future holds and the blessings you will bestow on me tomorrow and on.” There is so much that you can say and gratitude goes a long way.

Psalm 9:1: “I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”