How to Develop an Attitude of Gratitude in All Circumstances

Gratitude Matters

Gratitude can truly have a transformative power in our lives. I use to get so annoyed by the clichés for gratitude. The problem is that if we let our annoyances drive our willingness to change we will remain stuck. So, I had to get over the annoyance and realize that gratitude can really make a difference and I’m not talking just putting on rose colored glasses and ignoring problems.

Having gratitude is an attitude that requires effort. It’s upstream of our feelings. If you’re like me, feelings of depression and discouragement are easier to come by. I refer to easy or default emotions as downstream. So expressing gratitude will always come with the price of intentional thought. upstream.

Gratitude is a quality that we harness to refuse the downward spiral and to acknowledge, in spite of life’s challenges, to see the good and the blessings all around us. So, gratitude is fueled by our focus on the small, seemingly insignificant blessings and not simply faking positivity.

Gratitude is especially impactful in our difficult seasons, because it is so difficult to come by in the midst of an onslaught of challenges and negative thoughts. While it might be so incredibly hard to invoke gratitude when everything seems to be hitting the fan. Living in the practice of expressing gratitude will help you get in the habit in the “good” seasons so that you’re ready for the bad seasons. It’s in those hard times that it will help you find peace, strength, and perspective in the midst of the storm.

Scripture is filled with passages that help remind us to express our gratitude regularly. Consider 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Gratitude is a Choice

Acknowledge that gratitude often doesn’t come naturally, especially in challenging situations. It’s important to remember that we have to choose to have gratitude. We drift toward complaint or ingratitude which is a reflection of discontentment.

So what we do is that when discontentment or ingratitude is stirred up in us we repent or turn toward the exact opposite by choice. This again requires a self-awareness that reflects a maturity in our lives.

Some practical ways to practice gratitude and to keep choosing it is to put into your routine a pause and moments in your day that force you to think, ponder, and respond to the subtle things in your life you should express gratitude for.

From Problems to Promises

This is why it is so important to then acknowledge the giver of all the things you have in life. To bring into focus your life for the purpose of glorifying God. When we focus on God’s promises instead of our problems, we gain strength and hope.

In every situation, God is working for our good (Romans 8:28).

There are a number of ways we can return to the scriptures and reflect on the promises of God’s presence and provision for our lives. God is not done when you are going through hardship. He is working things together for your good and you can sit in His presence without the feeling of ingratitude when you recognize His purposes on a grander scale.

Take a moment

Develop small, consistent habits of expressing thanks, such as keeping a gratitude journal or saying a quick prayer of thanks each morning. Don’t just wait for sitting down to a meal with your family and express gratitude more frequently

Aim to make this a habit. In every moment commit to express gratitude and be persistent in challenging the awkwardness or challenge it can be. With time and persistence it can become a natural response, not just an occasional practice.

Reframe Negative Thoughts

It’s amazing what our focus can do when we take a moment to look around and vocally identify the thoughts that are captivating our attention and to speak the truth over them. Remember this is not an opportunity to partner with shame but to simply state the truth and own it and to deny the lie.

Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

You are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with. That is why it’s so important to evaluate and to be mindful of the influences you have in your life and the community and company you keep. What sort of talk do they have about their circumstances? Have you ever been critical in your reflection of your time with others? Maybe it’s time to distance yourself from others that are constantly complaining, harbor resentment, or entitlement, and focus on what is lacking rather than what is present.

Surround yourself with people who are uplifting and encouraging, as well as encourage you to seek the Lord in your struggles and challenges through time in prayer and worship.

Practice Service and Generosity

Another way to pivot or experience gratitude for yourself and circumstances to take your eye off of yourself. Stop “navel gazing” as it is called and lift your eyes up to the world around you and others who are in need. I’m not talking about having pity on others who comparatively might have things worst off, but to serve others as Christ would have you serve. This always knocks me out of the spirit of ingratitude and into living in the spirit and God’s will.

This helps us shift focus away from what we lack to what we can offer and honestly the ultimate source of all things in our life. God.

Serve in small ways by being thoughtful of your co-workers, or doing an intentional act of kindness for someone in need. Take a moment out of your busy day and even your challenging times and think about others. It’ll do you a world of good.

Final Thoughts

Gratitude can Impact Everything

Gratitude reshapes us and gets us to live in the flow of the spirit. It’s where we experience the joy and peace of walking in God’s provision and out of comparison and ingratitude. It takes habitual intentional effort that you must into practice. Use routine to help you in the seasons where things seem to be better than the challenging ones and you’ll find it easier to face the challenging seasons with more gratitude than you had before. We can develop an enduring attitude of gratitude that carries us through any season by the grace of God. Be blessed!