This girl is learning GRATITUDE.

Both science and Scripture agree: practicing intentional gratitude transforms your ENTIRE life — mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Look at this list of benefits!

• Rewires the brain toward positive thinking
• Lowers stress hormones
• Boosts dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin
• Strengthens the immune system
• Improves sleep
• Calms the nervous system
• Improves emotional health and relationships
• Strengthens your faith by shifting focus to God’s goodness
• Breaks the power of fear, worry, and complaining in your spirit

And it’s FREE.

Yet, regardless of all these wonderful things, I find myself stuck in a rut of negativity and complaining. If not out loud, definitely in my own head. Why is it something I almost resist doing??

Well, it didn’t take much digging to find the answer. LOL.
Guess what? This goes all the way back to our really cool friends, Adam and Eve. Their contribution to the world? A little thing called sin nature.
(Oh — and also procreating so that I actually exist. Haha.)

And if you haven’t heard by now… our job as disciples is to spend the remaining years of our lives DYING to that sin nature, taking up our cross, crucifying our flesh, and living in our NEW nature through Christ Jesus. The Bible also tells us to “count the cost”… because it will cost you everything.

Often this calling seems so large it feels impossible — a daunting task we could never achieve. But Jesus commands it… which means it must be doable. So where do we start? We’re not literally dragging out an old wooden cross every morning and climbing onto it.

The transformation starts in our intentional thinking. This is the heart of discipleship:

• “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
(Romans 12:2)
• “Set your mind on things above.”
(Col. 3:2)
• “Take every thought captive.”
(2 Cor. 10:5)

So, the question is… could the breakthrough really start with something as simple as intentionally practicing gratitude? And if so, whyyyyy is it so hard?

What I’m about to share will help you understand the struggle — and yes, the struggle is real — and empower you to rise above it and live a life marked by gratitude.

1. Our sinful nature is wired for survival, not gratitude.

We constantly scan for problems, dangers, disappointments, what’s missing, and what could go wrong. This is called negative bias.
Gratitude is not automatic — unfortunately.

2. Gratitude requires us to SLOW DOWN.

This is not natural for humans or our culture… but taking a few minutes each morning and each evening to sit in gratitude is where transformation begins. Trust me — it transforms more than you can imagine!
And I know you — don’t rush through your automatic list and let it bounce off you. Get it IN you. Make it count!

3. Gratitude requires humility.

Yikes. You must admit:
God loves me.
God provides for me.
God blesses me.
I am not self-made or self-sufficient.
My praise goes to Him!

4. Gratitude focuses on what’s RIGHT, not what’s wrong.

We literally have to TRAIN ourselves to see God’s goodness and recognize His love toward us — not brush it off as casual or unimportant.

EXAMPLE: You hear your husband’s one critical comment and take it to the grave. But he could tell you how beautiful you are 100 times a day, and you brush it off as casual or unimportant.

POINT PROVEN. We do the same with GOD.

Speaking gratitude is contagious — not just to others, but to OURSELVES.
We are hearing it, we are speaking it, and we might actually learn to BELIEVE it if we change the focus!

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

5. Gratitude MUST be chosen because THAT is what TRANSFORMS us.

It reshapes:
• Our mood
• Our mental health
• Our brain
• Our relationships
• Our faith
• Our perspective

Do YOU want to be happier? Enjoy life more? Live at another level?
It starts with this.

Have you ever purchased a new car, and suddenly you see that same car everywhere you go? Imagine if we did that with all the reasons we have to be thankful, grateful — all the ways God shows His love toward us. The list would be endless, and we wouldn’t have time for anything else!

Over the holidays this year, make it a point to set aside daily moments where you are intentionally practicing gratitude. It will be transformational!

Go, girls!! Let’s give THANKS!