“in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to G-d; for this is the will of G-d for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP
In May 2018, UC Berkley released a study on the Science of Gratitude. If it sounds familiar, it’s because I first mentioned them in a blog on February 19, 2022. They have an entire department – called the Greater Good Science Center – devoted to mental well-being, and gratitude is one of their top topics. Scientific studies have proven that when we express gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, two happy hormones, into our brain.
While there has been a resurgence in the scientific community of the power of gratitude over the last 10 years, the idea of a lifestyle of gratitude began long, long ago. In today’s reading, there are several admonitions given to the community of the Thessalonians, everything from being kind to not returning evil for evil to obeying the prompting of the Holy Spirit, but the one that stands out to me is this one in verse 18. In EVERY situation, eucharistéō – be actively grateful, actively express gratitude. If I get a tattoo, it will be a script of this word. Things are hard? Be actively grateful. Things are good? Be actively grateful. No matter what is happening, always be actively grateful.
Gratitude, when activated, changes me. Far too often I’ve waited to feel gratitude before I expressed gratitude. But that formula is all wrong. The action comes first – and the feeling will follow eventually. I’m re-starting the Joy Dare challenge today to reset the order of gratitude in my life until it becomes a habit once again because gratitude spoken – even in a whisper – has power to change me, you, and the world around us.
Father, thank You for Your presence and provision in my life. Thank You for how you lovingly convict and restore. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and you can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: I and II Thessalonians
November 27, 2022
Joy Dare: https://s3.amazonaws.com/a.voskamp/FreeTools/AV_JoyDare_2020.pdf