BBD 11.22.10 How to be Happy: Gratitude (Classic)
Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>
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Classic from 2002
11.22.10
How to be Happy: Gratitude
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Karen Ellis Richardson has gratitude for some new things now that she has
completed paddling 1750 miles in her kayak from her Florida home to her high
school reunion. Karen who is 48-years-old, received along the way five
marriage proposals, and seven nights of free lodging from many new friends.
But perhaps, what she has the most gratitude for is as Richardson says, "It
feels good to stand up!"
A character trait, which psychologists now recognize as being helpful in the
development and maintenance of happiness, is gratitude or thanksgiving. Of
course, those of faith have long known that gratitude is an essential to
living the successful life. Counting your blessings, and naming them one by
one, has sustained many of God's saints through the storms of life.
Psychologists finally have come to the realization, that talking and writing
about what you are grateful for increases your happiness, and they have done
the studies to prove it.
The Psalmist in Psalm 18, gives the Christian some things for which to have
gratitude. Here are just a few:
God wants to have a personal relationship with you.
God is your Strength.
God is your Rock.
God is your Fortress.
God is your Deliverer.
Do you want to be happy? If you do, then you will need gratitude, and to
develop that gratitude you must grow in the awareness of those things in
your life that are blessings. Every day, find something new to be grateful
about, and throughout the day thank your God for it. Each day, find
something new to praise Him, and thank Him for. In just a few weeks, you'll
find that you have developed an attitude of gratitude, and along the way
increased your level of happiness. What are you most thankful about today?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
The next devotional will be sent 11.26.10.
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