Is it possible that a lack of gratitude in our lives signifies a dangerous underlying issue in regard to our view of reality, as well as our spiritual health?
In light of last weeks' US holiday, Ben explores the application of thanksgiving as is described in Philippians 6, as well as the questions above in this P&I quick hit!
One of the most important parts of your spiritual life is gratitude, and I am going to tell you why. What's up, guys? This is Ben Pierce, and this is Provoked and Inspired Quick Hit, where I take something from culture and I ask the question what would Jesus think and what would Jesus do? If you enjoy this content, consider subscribing to the channel so you can get all of the latest updates when they come out. Also, we'd love to hear from you, so please comment, and if you'd share this with someone, that would be greatly appreciated as well. Alright, let's go.
Speaker 1:
Perhaps the greatest indication of spiritual health is gratitude. You might be confused, but let me explain. I have been a touring artist for more than 15 years and, honestly, it has been amazing. Despite late nights and long van drives and setting up and packing down and living out of a suitcase, I am more grateful than ever to do what I do. The fact is, the majority of people in the world struggle to survive and they're wondering where their next meal is coming from. To have time and resources to paint or take pictures or make films or play music is a blessing very few people in history have experienced. Being an artist is an incredible privilege, but that is just the icing on the cake. The fact that I have a healthy brain and body, that I woke up today, that I'm well fed and clothed, that I live in a nice house these are reasons enough to produce an eternally grateful heart. And, of course, this says nothing about what Jesus has done for me. I should be shouting my praise to God from the rooftops, but do I? I think a lack of gratitude is incredibly serious. To not be grateful is simply not to understand reality. In Philippians 6, paul says that we should not be anxious about anything, but in all things, with prayer and thanksgiving, make our requests known to God. I find that we often dismiss the word Thanksgiving in this text, but it is of huge significance. Look, if atheists are right. We have very good reasons to be anxious, but we know they're not. God is real and true hope comes from Him. Thinking God is our way of realigning our hearts with the reality that he is in control, that he provides and that he cares for us.
Speaker 1:
While I was in university, I learned to seek God with an earnest heart and, honestly, this changed my whole life. During this season, I really felt drawn to the idea of just thanking God. I would often go out in prayer walks and never ask for anything. I would simply thank God for all that he had done and all that he was doing. In my life, I found myself increasingly aware of His power and provision, and this produced a gratitude in me that simply made my requests seem less important.
Speaker 1:
As I've matured in my faith, I've made thanking God a crucial discipline, and I believe I've learned some critical aspects of gratitude that I believe are worth sharing. So I want to share three with you. The first is being grateful is not a feeling but a choice. Like all things that matter in life, we have to choose to do what is right. I rarely feel like working out, I rarely feel like being generous or selfless, and I certainly rarely feel like being grateful, but I have decided to voice my gratitude. I have decided to recognize all that God has done for me and to acknowledge that with my words and with my attitude. Deciding is the horse that pulls the cart, and this is a critical aspect of any spiritual discipline and, in particular, of gratitude.
Speaker 1:
Secondly, it's not enough to just think about it. I really believe there is power in declaration. We sing worship songs in part as a way of declaring who God is and what he has done. I have seen that when I speak the truth, it is cemented in my heart. That is why memorizing Scripture is so crucial. When we speak out our gratitude to Him, it has a way of melting this spirit of complaining that can take hold of us. We can think well, I feel grateful. Isn't that enough? In my experience, it's not. We have to speak it, we have to say it, and when we do, it has a profound impact on how we feel and how we live. Thirdly and finally, gratitude grows.
Speaker 1:
As I have matured in the spiritual discipline of thanksgiving, I've seen growth in this area of my life. My view of God has increased, my understanding of His faithfulness has deepened and I'm a better steward of what God has given me. Believing thanksgiving starts as a routine and has developed into a deep passion, like a muscle. The more I've exercised it, the more it has grown. We can often think it's just an organic thing that will happen, but the truth is, like I said we have to decide, we have to speak it out loud and over time it grows. As I reflect on my life and all that I've been given, my sense of gratitude continues to deepen. I'm convinced that, far more than just a polite social behavior gratitude being thankful it predicts someone's spiritual well-being, it indicates someone's spiritual well-being and it reflects that we truly understand who God is and what he has done for us. And so, daily, I choose to dwell on the goodness of God and I decide to be thankful when I feel it. I decide to be thankful when I don't feel it, and I decide to be thankful until I feel it, because, in light of what Jesus has done for me, I better be grateful.
Speaker 1:
All right, guys. That's it for Provoked and Inspired Quick Hit. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope it was encouraging to you. Let's remember to incorporate gratitude into our own lives. I think it'll have a transformative impact on your life. Otherwise, leave us a rating and review on this content. If it's encouraging, check out Stiger, the missions organization that this podcast is a part of. And that's it for now. I'll talk to you next time, peace.