"Gratitude: A Spiritual Discipline"

What is gratitude? 

Gratitude is “a feeling or an attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit one has received or will receive”.

I shall never forget, “How ‘bout some appreciation?”, the manner in which this calm request uttered by my wife, screeched within my soul beckoning a response and disturbing me into consciousness.

During our first year in ministry, we were in the throes of all things new: newborn son, new church, new community (first year living in North Carolina), new livelihood (pastor, stay-at-home mom and part-time consultant), new parental normal (my mom had just died), etc.

     Easily, I could have been dismissive and defensive, right?

But my wife’s conviction exposed a developing abscess of ungratefulness within me! I had allowed the bacterial invasion of negligence to infiltrate my heart and weaken my ethic of gratitude. Consequently, I had been failing to love, honor and cherish my bride. In that moment, I realized no matter what was happening externally (at work, with others or with us, etc.) or internally (selfishness, pride or hurt, etc.), gratitude is something that I must always practice.

Gratitude does not just happen it’s an action that must be chosen!

Gratitude like all spiritual disciplines is grounded in a desire to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind and strength and to love people with God-like love. Just as we develop the practice of fasting, praying, studying scripture, and other spiritual disciplines, we must also cultivate the habit of gratitude.

The depth of our relationship with God and others

is commiserate with our active practice of gratitude.

Jesus highlights the significance of gratitude in the healing of Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19):

One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.  Jesus said, 

“Were not ten healed? Where are the nine?

Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?”

(The Message Bible, Luke 17:15-18).

Apparently, Jesus has an expectation of gratitude. While we might create excuses, Jesus is not pleased when we fail to practice gratitude! Just as I clearly heard my wife’s calm request, perhaps you can hear Jesus or someone else saying to you –

“How ‘bout some appreciation (gratitude)?!”

Remember:

Gratitude does not just happen it’s an action that must be chosen!

INSPIRED BY LOVE,

Pastor Marcus J. Singleton