Gratitude over a Bad Attitude

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon! Happy Black History Month!

TFTD: Gratitude over a Bad Attitude

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Take a moment to think about the things you’ve asked God for over the years. Have you asked God for a new job, a new house, a new car, a man/woman, to start a new business or to go back to school? Maybe you’ve asked for something else, but I would venture out to say you’ve asked for something. I would even step out on a limb and suggest that God has answered at least ONE of your prayers. Now that you have that thing in mind, take a moment to think about how you felt when you got it. Were you excited, happy, thankful, grateful? How long did that feeling last?

When we desire something, we display a hunger for it. We have to have it. When we acquire something, we display a sense of gratitude and appreciation. Then for some, not all, when we maintain that thing we shift from an attitude of gratitude to having a bad attitude. Truth be told, sometimes we can be right out nasty. That person or thing that we prayed tirelessly for and asked others to intercede for us, all of a sudden we are cursing that thing. Maybe you’ve never done this, I know I’ve been guilty of this. Pleading with God. Fasting and praying. Proclaiming, “Lord, if you do _(fill in the blank)_, I will be ETERNALLY grateful.” Sounds familiar? Unfortunately, we don’t measure eternity the way God measures it.

The Word says, in EVERYTHING give thanks. Why is it that we can go from being grateful to being angry and resentful? Why is that we go from praying for God to bless us, but in the same breath we are telling God He got it wrong? You do realize when you curse the blessing God gave you, it’s as if you are saying “Lord, you didn’t get this blessing right. I’ll take another.” It’s important to have an attitude of gratitude. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t desire new things, better positions, more money, etc. I’m saying that in your transition be grateful. Continue to thank God for where you are because He brought you from somewhere to get to where you are now. Give God thanks for entrusting you with that man/woman, job, house, or car.

How would you feel if you spent time picking out something for someone and they didn’t say thank you? How would you feel if they looked at it, said thank you and then shortly thereafter through it away? I don’t know about you, but I would feel terrible. I would be a little upset and call them ungrateful. How do you think God feels when we curse the gifts He’s given us?

No matter where you are in life, I encourage you to be intentional about showing your gratitude instead of having a bad attitude. Ask God to show you the value in EVERYTHING. You may not like everything; however, you can find the blessing in anything if you open your eyes and look for them.

Practical Application: Write down the top five (5) things you have been complaining about lately, ask God for forgiveness and to help you change your attitude. Now write down three (3) reasons you are thankful for those five things. Take that list and put it somewhere you can refer back to it later. Whenever you feel like cursing your blessing, pull out this list and begin showing gratitude.

God bless!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.