The Power of Gratitude

As the new year begins, it is a time for self-improvement. Many start diets, hit the gym, or dive into books. But here is a suggestion: work on your gratitude muscles — especially gratitude towards God.

Gratitude is not just an antidote to the constant desire for more. It also means tapping into the power of God instead of your own power to deliver results.

In the Bible, Jesus often expressed gratitude or praise to God. Consider these powerful moments:

• Feeding 5,000: When faced with feeding five thousand men with only five loaves and two fish, instead of complaining, Jesus gave thanks. Those few items were enough to feed everyone until they were full.
• Lazarus’ tomb: Confronted with death, Jesus did not question why suffering occurred. Instead, He thanked God — and Lazarus came back to life.
• The Last Supper: Knowing His body and blood would be sacrificed, Jesus still gave thanks to God. Now we are all saved and can call God our Father.

Expressing gratitude means surrendering what you have to God, letting go of responsibility for the outcome. Our job is to sow; God takes care of the rest. By surrendering to God, we tap into the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Let us inspire, remind, and support each other in cultivating the habit of gratitude. Regardless of what this year brings, let us express our gratitude to God.