Day 1: Defined by Gratitude Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:12-17English Standard Version (ESV)

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gratitude is learning to recognise and express appreciation for the benefits that we have received from God and from others.

"Recognise" what we receive each day, the eyes of our heart must be open and alert.

"Express appreciation" means that what's in our heart needs to come out. Being intentional about thanking God and others for the blessings that come our way.

Being mindful of the "benefits we received" helps to squeeze bitterness and entitlement from our hearts, replacing negative depressing thoughts with the realization that our loving Father has showered us with good things and that even bad things in our lives are benefits intended to make us more like Jesus.

Pray that the Lord will enable be to be thankful person. I confess that I lack thankful nature and tend to murmur and complain when things do not happen the way I expected. I seek forgiveness from the Lord and pray that He will lead and guide me to learn how to apply a grateful heart in my interactions with people around me. May the Holy Spirit transform me into Christ-likeness to learn how to be a person who seeks to glorify God in whatever things I do.