You would think that all the blessings we have would make us the most grateful people on earth. But, often all this affluence does is really just make us more and more discontented and ungrateful, because often the by-product of having so much is a desire for more.
It is very hard to be grateful when we cannot learn to be happy with what we already have.
It is very hard to be grateful when we cannot learn to be happy with what we already have.
Reasons we are Ungrateful
1. We Are Ungrateful Because of Affluence
2. We Are Ungrateful People Because of Pride
3. We Are Ungrateful People Because Of Who We Hang Around With
4. We Are Ungrateful People Because of Circumstances
1. We Are Ungrateful Because of Affluence
2. We Are Ungrateful People Because of Pride
3. We Are Ungrateful People Because Of Who We Hang Around With
4. We Are Ungrateful People Because of Circumstances
So, here are four steps to reaching the highest level of gratitude. I will give you two today and the other two steps on Monday.
1. Remember How Much Gratitude Pleases God
Gratitude makes God happy.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 says, “They raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang, ‘He is good; his love endures forever. Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.”
God’s presence came to the temple in response to the thanksgiving that was coming out of it.
God loved to hear the praise from the temple and so He drew near. It appears that thanksgiving and praise are the key to manifesting the presence of God. It pleases him.
2. Avoid Complaining At All Costs
Complaining and grumbling are the biggest barriers to gratitude. And we need to learn to catch ourselves when we complain and stop it right away.
Numbers 11:1 says the Israelites “complained about their hardships and when God heard it his anger was aroused.” And we need to avoid complaining like the plague because God hates it and it ruins our spiritual lives.
Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.”
Bob Russell writes, “I really believe the most important step in developing inner peace is to quit complaining and start praising.”
Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining and arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."
1. Remember How Much Gratitude Pleases God
Gratitude makes God happy.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 says, “They raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang, ‘He is good; his love endures forever. Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.”
God’s presence came to the temple in response to the thanksgiving that was coming out of it.
God loved to hear the praise from the temple and so He drew near. It appears that thanksgiving and praise are the key to manifesting the presence of God. It pleases him.
2. Avoid Complaining At All Costs
Complaining and grumbling are the biggest barriers to gratitude. And we need to learn to catch ourselves when we complain and stop it right away.
Numbers 11:1 says the Israelites “complained about their hardships and when God heard it his anger was aroused.” And we need to avoid complaining like the plague because God hates it and it ruins our spiritual lives.
Psalm 77:3 says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.”
Bob Russell writes, “I really believe the most important step in developing inner peace is to quit complaining and start praising.”
Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining and arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."
ACTION STEP: Pray the prayer above and continue to "BE COMPLAINT FREE" in Jesus name. Amen.
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