The Discipline of Gratitude
This week, Dan talked about the rebuilding practice of “Stand and Cheer.” We can do this by cheering on others around us, but we also can express this in gratitude towards God.
Here’s how to go deeper in gratitude:
THE GRATITUDE LIST
In the video above, Dan read a passage from Charles Finney and encouraged us to remember blessings we’ve experienced that have gone unacknowledged in the course of our lives.
TAKE ACTION: Find a quiet place and a time frame of at least 20 minutes. Write down some times in the last week some things that you could celebrate God for his gracious hand. When done, go back further, to the past month. Then this past year. Then this past decade.
Watch how it becomes easier and easier to identify blessings. Take some time in prayer to thank God for each specific item you’ve identified.
This week, begin to take note of how this simple exercise leads to “reticular activation,” seeing God at work everywhere.
THE GRATITUDE PRAYER
Dan pointed out that in the passage Phillipians 4:6-7, thanksgiving is a forgotten secret to prayer.
When we fear, we begin to pray. It’s fairly natural.
But the secret to prayer that guards our heart from anxiety is thanksgiving.
TAKE ACTION: This week in prayer, try beginning your prayer time with a few minutes of giving thanks. You can use your list above to generate fresh gratitude, or thank God spontaneously for something he has done recently.
REACHING YOUR NEIGHBORS
Part of trusting the Lord is stepping out in faith to build relationships and share the gospel with our neighbors; trusting that the Lord will help us know what to say and multiply our efforts for His glory. Check out this new track called "When It's Hard to Invite"
Sometimes taking that step to invite your neighbors can feel like a doozie. This growth track will help you overcome your fears and move out in faith and confidence towards those around you.