No Downside to Gratitude
It turns out that being thankful can have many positive health effects: more intimate and connected relationships, less depression, diminished likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, more motivation and engagement, better sleep, and overall mental well-being. So says Dr. Gail Saltz, psychoanalyst and assistant attending physician at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Medical Center and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Those are clearly some positive side-effects of gratitude, but the best effect is to our walk with the Lord.
Gratitude keeps you reminded of God’s preeminence in your life: “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving…for the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:2–3). We give thanks “for He is good” (Ps. 106:1), for “Your glorious name” (1 Chron. 29:13), for “His righteousness” (Ps. 7:17), and as “the God of gods” (Ps. 136:2).
Gratitude keeps you reminded of God’s preference in your life: “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18).
Gratitude keeps you reminded of God’s provision in your life: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). “Joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance…” (Col. 1:12).
Gratitude keeps you reminded of God’s purpose for your life: “Now one of them…fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan... Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:11–18); “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me” (Ps. 50:23); “The living creatures gave thanks to Him who sits on the throne…worthy are you, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things” (Rev. 4:9–11).
Gratitude keeps you reminded of God’s providence in your life: “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Eph. 5:20). God is orchestrating “all things” for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28–29).
Gratitude keeps you reminded of God’s protection in your life: “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Heb. 12:28). No greater security than being in God’s everlasting indestructible kingdom (Dan. 7:14, 18).
Stay thankful. In fact, be “overflowing with gratitude” (Col. 2:7).
Pastor Jeff