‘I do not whip up my will into worship; my grateful heart can do nothing else.’ – E. Stanley Jones

I have never met someone who comes by gratitude naturally – a genuinely grateful heart is hard-fought, battle-worn, and undeterred by circumstance.

Like the ‘sinful woman’ grateful hearts respond with worship because they see clearly all is grace and gift:

‘Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’’ (Luke 7:47-48, CSB, Emphasis added)

Fuel your gratitude with the reality of the Gospel:

We deserve death, but we have been given the life of Christ (Rom 6:23, Gal 2:20).

We were enemies, strangers, and orphans, who have been welcomed as heirs (Rom 5:10, Eph 2:19, Rom 8:15, 8:17).

Nothing can separate us from the love of God our Father (Rom 8:39).

Nothing can snatch us out of the hand of Christ (Jn 10:28).

We are never forsaken (Heb 13:5).

God is conforming us to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29).

God is working all things for our good and His glory (Rom 8:28).

He is faithful even when we are faithless (2 Tim 2:13).

We are loved with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3).

Gratitude sends us in peace to worship.

Lord, we confess our entitlement and cynicism. We are quick to forget that we have all we need in You. And all things we desire are but warped desires – shadows – of our need and longing for You. Thank You that You have graciously given us all things. Form our hearts in the trenches of desire to flow with deep, lasting, immovable gratitude. For Your honor and our good. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

With gratitude,