Daily Hope – Growing in the Seasons of
life - Thursday, 28 November 2013 – “Radical Gratitude” by Rick Warren
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Thanksgiving is not supposed to be a day
that we celebrate once a year. It is to be a spiritual habit of the radical
believer. The more deeply you understand God’s love, the more grateful you’re
going to be.
So what does it mean to be radically
grateful?
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18,
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus” (NIV). That’s radical gratitude. In all circumstances give thanks,
because it’s God’s will for you.
You can thank God in every circumstance
because God is in control. He can bring good out of evil. He can turn around
the stupid mistakes you make. No matter what happens, God isn’t going to stop
loving you. There are a hundred things to be thankful for in any circumstance,
even when the circumstances stink.
Radical gratitude — being thankful in all
circumstances — is God’s will because it creates fellowship.
What do I mean by that? Gratitude always
builds deeper relationships between you and other people and between you and
God.
Whoever you want to get closer to, start
expressing gratitude to that person. If you’ve moved away from your husband or
your wife, you need to start doing what you did when you were dating: Express
gratitude. Write little notes of kindness and encouragement. Make calls or text
during the day, just to tell him or her that you’re thankful. Do the things you
did at first. The reason you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling is because you stopped
doing the things that created that lovin’ feeling early on, and you take each
other for granted.
Do you want to build your small group?
Don’t just go to small group. During the week, text them, email them, call
them, write them. Say, “I’m grateful for you, and here’s why.” You’ll find that
the more grateful you are for your group, the more your group will bond.
The Bible tells us to “encourage one
another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). As you build others
up, you’ll find that God builds into your life as well through your deep
relationships with him and others.
Talk It Over
Who do you need to encourage or connect
with this week? To whom do you need to show your gratitude?
What are some simple ways you can express
your gratitude to your spouse, friend, or small group members?
As you develop an attitude of gratitude,
what changes do you see in yourself and your relationships?
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