January 24, 2021

When you feel at the bottom of the food chain and dead last in terms of priority, how do move forward toward gratitude?

When I am in a bad place and feel down, my response is to initially ask the question why? Why is this happening to me? This question stays with me for different periods of time. Over the years, as I have spent time with Jesus, this period of despair and bitterness have decreased. Through the years of relationship with the Father, I have learned that He is always with me and that I am a priority to Him. I intentionally bring the scripture, Psalm 103:1, to mind. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I remember to speak to my soul and tell it to bless the LORD. Through the change of perspective of blessing the LORD, even though they may be challenging times, my focus shifts to Him. I have spoken of this shift like this. I purposefully magnify the Lord. When I do, everything else becomes smaller. He becomes bigger.

When have you found that in retrospect you could have been thankful for something that you were not grateful for at the time it was happening?

There have been times that I have not been thankful nor grateful for something I could have been. Most of the times that, in retrospect, I could have been grateful for something but was not have been times that the Lord has been working some deep personal issue within me. I am beginning to recognize that when I display certain character flaws that usually means that He is working on certain areas of my life. For example, when I become short tempered regarding the cleanliness of my home, the Lord is usually working on my lack of time management. I don’t know how those two things work together, but the Lord does.

How can this perspective inform your life now?

As I live my life day to day, I try to remind myself that most of my negative responses and reactions to outside situations are usually Him to get my attention so that we can work on some part of my personality to be transformed into His likeness and image.

How has a grateful person affected your own vision of what matters in life?

I love being around grateful people. They remind me that God is always in control and regardless of my situation, He wants the best for me and wants me to commune with Him.

How has someone who out of bitterness affected your life?

Bitterness is ugly. There has been people that I have had to distance myself from because of it. The bitterness and negativity are like a virus. I have found that regardless of how close my walk is with God, if I allow myself to interact with bitter people on a friendship basis, I find myself changing into a bitterer and negative person.

How does your disposition influence your attitude toward gratitude?

I am not exactly sure what this question is asking, but my personality minus Christ is very bitter and negative. I know that, as a disciple of Christ, as a follower of Him, I take gratitude very seriously. I know my story and where He pulled me out of. I remind myself daily of His great love and grace shown to me, and as a result, my disposition is grateful.

How are you addicted to criticism, analysis, and negativity? How might thankfulness be an antidote to a critical spirit?

I am not addicted to criticism, analysis nor negativity. Thankfulness is the antidote to a critical spirit. I was once critical and negative, but though the power of the Holy Spirit and His love and grace, He has set me free from this.

Get a current hardship firmly in mind. How do you feel about this hardship? Tell the truth to God. Where is there evidence of God’s presence in the hardship? Is there anything you can be thankful for? If you cannot find God in your hardship, spend some time with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. What does he want to tell you?

I do not have any current hardships. The LORD has blessed me. One example I can use is this season I am in right now. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a hardship, but this is a challenging time. I am enrolled full time in Life Pacific University taking 16 credits this semester. While doing this, I am also working a fulltime job as a Retail Assistant Manager working 50 hours a week and have responsibilities at church 2-3 night a week. This could be considered a hardship, but I am looking at this season in different ways. One, the LORD has allowed me to attend college. Also, He has given me a job. The perspective that He allows me to look at this season allows me to be able to live this season in relationship and gratitude to Him.

(Calhoun)

Holy Spirit What’s the Big Deal?

While reading the book The Holy Spirit: So… What’s the Big Deal?, (Cook) the Lord reminded me of something I read. I cannot remember where or by whom, but the author was speaking about the 3 W’s. We as believers must judge our ideas and plans by the 3 W’s. God’s Word, Will, and Way. The third W, His way, was what I thought about. It is incredibly easy to find out whether our thoughts, what we have read, or heard is contrary to the Word of God. All we need to do is read the Bible. God’s will is a bit less easy to know. The Lord said that He has plans for us, plans for good and not evil. So, we can use the Bible to judge His will as well. The third W, His way, is difficult. We can obviously judge it to the scripture, and His will, but the Lord does things however He wants to. We can read in the gospels Jesus healing people in many ways. In the Old Testament, we read how the LORD defeats Israel’s enemies many ways. Thus, the LORD likes us to discuss this with Him. He allows us to speak with Him and enjoys the time we spend together.

Works Cited

Calhoun, Ahlberg Adele. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2005.

Cook, Jerry. The Holy Spirit: So… What’s the Big Deal? North Charleston: Jerry Cook, 2013.