“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness.” -1 Chronicles 16:8
The more you say “thanks”, the better you feel. It’s science.
As you talk about how great God is—and focus on how great He’s been to you—you will actually start to feel “great,” yourself. Of course, “great” is relative, and you might be physically in pain, or deep in some hurt… But nevertheless, you’ll feel better and better the more you focus on God’s greatness… His goodness… and the blessings He’s orchestrated for your life.
So much of life is simply a matter of what you’re focusing on.
Someone once said, “Where focus goes, energy flows.” It’s true.
There are people who have focused on their pain, their loss, the injustice, and their resentment for 12 or more years. What you focus on grows! It’s gets bigger… worse… and it becomes an emotional resident in your heart and mind–creating a filter for how you see the world (“people can’t be trusted”) and for how you see yourself (“victim”). It limits our experience of life and makes excuses for why we’re settling. And it’s always someone else’s fault.
You can choose what you’re focused on throughout the day. Choose GRATITUDE. After all, you’re blessed.
Choose what you’re focused on today.
“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” -Philippians 4:8