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I’m examining the power of gratitude—of being a consistently thankful and grateful person. What is the power of gratitude?
For one, gratitude empowers you to be content with who you are, where you are, and what you have. Someone has said gratitude turns what we have into enough. Think about that. When what you have is enough, you’re no longer envious, dissatisfied, or obsessed by the desire to have more. As you develop a heart of gratitude, always counting your blessings for what you have instead of dwelling on what’s missing, it brings contentment into your life.
The Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). This simple statement carries a real punch—a divine principle many Christians should take seriously, and that is contentment. The more you develop a heart of gratitude, the more contented you will be. And in this way—joining a godly lifestyle with true contentment—we gain so very much.
I find this is an on-going commitment for me, one that can easily get sidetracked with wanting more. Whenever we think getting something material, or getting more of it, will meet our needs, then we are not content. To develop a heart of gratitude means we recognize this flaming arrow our enemy will constantly throw at us—the arrow of discontent—and we choose to be thankful for what we have instead. A heart of gratitude turns what we have into enough.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” Godliness with contentment is great gain. It’s rich, and gratitude is the key to a contented life. The great gain we experience from a heart of gratitude has nothing to do with material things. Rather it’s all about the riches of a peaceful heart, a mind at rest, and the assurance of God’s presence and his never-ending love.
I encourage you to be very intentional about developing a heart of gratitude, being thankful no matter what, and continually dwelling on all you have to be thankful for. It’s a lot! And remember, the more you practice being thankful, the more you’ll have to be thankful for.