Gratitude as a Weapon

Do you believe that gratitude is a choice? Sometimes we feel gratitude swell up inside our hearts involuntarily but other times, if want to be a grateful person, we must choose to be. Choosing to be grateful means actively searching for things in our lives that we can be thankful for. Its easier said than done sometimes because life is just plain hard. So why not “fake it till you make it?” That seems ridiculous in some ways but honestly, choosing to be grateful, even when there doesn’t seem to be much worthy of thankfulness, is faking it to some degree. Seeking out those reasons to give thanks and then verbalizing those things will change things for us. As we continue to do so, gratitude will naturally become a part of our daily lives.

Choosing to give thanks, finding reasons to be grateful, and sharing our grateful hearts with others will cause fear, anxiety, doubt, anger, worry, and hopelessness to flee. Those things will be replaced, at least for a moment, with joy, love, and peace. This is how gratitude can be used as a weapon! The enemy wants difficulty to steal our joy and disrupt our peace, but gratitude quickly reminds us of God’s goodness and of His trustworthy nature!

It’s important for us to recognize that hope is not found in changing temporary things. It’s found in changing our mindset and intentionally focusing on our Father. Gratitude greatly affects both! That might be why the Bible so often tells us to give thanks! "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

  With a renewed mindset and a heart full of thanksgiving, we can walk in freedom, even when our circumstances do not change.

William Arthur Ward said, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” He is so right! A thankful heart truly can change everything!

Today I am grateful that I can use gratitude as a weapon! Instead of allowing pain or frustration to rule my heart, I can choose to be grateful. Seeking out reasons to be thankful. Recalling times from the past where God has shown up in a big way.  Choosing to use gratitude as weapon to combat negativity and hopelessness will always lead me to peace and hope. I challenge you to fight with gratitude today, too!