Sunday Drive - A Grateful Heart

A Grateful Heart

Since this is thanksgiving week, of course I feel compelled to write about being thankful. Why should we be thankful? I believe the core reason is because He loved us first. When we were dead in our sins, completely uncapable of loving Him, He loved us regardless. Until the day our spirit came alive and woke up to see how desperately we needed the miraculous gift of salvation. The day we turned our lives around, turning our back on our sin, and receiving His everlasting love with an eternal destination of heaven.

Would we even be capable of love if He hadn't loved us first? Once we were dead with no hope, now we are alive!

1 John 4:19 (NIV)
19 We love because he first loved us.

Ephesians 2:1 (NLT)
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

This alone is a reason for me to have a grateful heart. Take time during this week and think about the loving gift of salvation. Let your heart be full of gratitude and fill you with joy!

I was curious if there was a difference between the word thankful and grateful. It was interesting.

Thankfulness is an outward expression of appreciation for something someone has done. Gratefulness is a deeper appreciation for life and not dependent on circumstances. That's something to ponder...

Being grateful is very important to our walk with Jesus and our growth in grace. It opens our heart to His love, His Word and to people in general.

A grateful heart cultivates an attitude that helps you discover the many many blessings of The Lord!

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT)
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

A grateful heart also protects you from feeling discouraged or falling into self-pity. It lifts your awareness of God's presence in your life and His overwhelming love for you.

Psalms 136:1 (NLT)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

We have so much to be thankful and grateful for. Count your blessings. Tell The Lord how much you are thankful and grateful to Him. Nurture a grateful heart.

Blessings,
Lori