GROW IN GRATITUDE WITH THE

HIDDEN IN MY HEART SCRIPTURE MUSIC COLLECTION

3 Practices for Growing in Gratitude

Try as we might, we don’t wake up one day as more grateful people. Gratitude is not a feeling but a practice and discipline. However, this is good news because it means our experience of gratitude does not sway with circumstances. It doesn’t need to be unsteady or unpredictable. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 makes this clear: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” If we are to give thanks in all circumstances, then our gratitude does not depend on those circumstances, but rather, our act of giving thanks can impact the situations around us. We can work in cooperation with God to build habits of thankfulness and experience His joy more profoundly and consistently. Here are three practices for growing in gratitude…

Bookend Your Days With a Grateful Pause

Even when we awake with gratitude, it can quickly be snuffed out by stress or an unexpected shift in our day. How can we infuse a day with gratitude, beginning and wrapping up our activities with thanksgiving? You can establish a morning and evening time of reflecting on God’s goodness through prayer. A morning prayer is often called Matin, meaning “belonging to the early morning.” This can be a five-minute pause before your day begins to pray, attune your heart to God’s Spirit, and listen to music inspired by Scripture. Refrain from requests during this time; simply focus on what is true of God and the ways you see Him at work. Make only one request … that gratitude will accompany you throughout the day. Then, in the evening, wrap up your day with another pause for prayer and reflection. Thank God for a few ways you saw Him working in your activities throughout the day. Don’t sink into despair or discouragement on difficult days if you don’t remain grateful throughout the hours. Instead, let your evening pause for prayer be a time to realign your heart and enjoy God’s goodness as you give thanks. Let Psalm 92:1-2 act as your guide as you bookend your days with gratitude: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night.”

Trade Comparison for Contentment

Nothing will steal our gratitude quicker than a moment of comparison. The enemy wants to rob us of enjoyment and God’s peace by making us think we are missing out on better things. Yet, as we practice gratitude, we are tapping into the abundant life Jesus speaks of in John 10:10. As the well-known hymn says, when we turn our eyes upon Jesus, the things of earth grow strangely dim. 

When you notice comparison stealing your joy, stop to pray. Ask God to help you trade comparison for contentment, remembering that Jesus is sufficient for all our needs and our most profound joy is found in Him. Write down or pray a prayer of thanks for three things God has recently provided for you. Let every opportunity for comparison become a cue for contentment.

Listen to Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus from Hidden In My Heart, Volume III

Memorize Scriptures for Growing in Gratitude

God wired our brains, gave us spirits, and designed these two things to work together. When our spirit feels ungrateful, our brains can remind us of our copious reasons for giving thanks. We can utilize the amazing capacity of our minds by memorizing Scripture so we can meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). Write the following verses for growing in gratitude on a notecard and memorize them one by one. Place them where you will see them often as regular reminders to help you create habits of thankfulness.

5 Scriptures for Growing in Gratitude

“Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalm 107:8

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.” Psalm 28:7

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:1-3

“Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.” Hebrews 13:15

May the Lord richly bless you and fill you with the deepest joy as you bookend your days with grateful pauses, trade comparison for contentment, and memorize Scriptures for growing in gratitude. 

GROW IN GRATITUDE WITH THE

HIDDEN IN MY HEART SCRIPTURE MUSIC COLLECTION