The Life Blood of Gratitude
I shared last week that hope has been like a kind of oxygen that helped my heart to survive these last 10 difficult years. In the midst of a difficult day recently, the Lord reminded me of another key thing that has gotten me through these things. Gratitude and thankfulness have been life giving to my soul.
On the hardest day, in the darkest night, when feeling so alone that I could hardly catch my breath - the Lord has encouraged me to be thankful. It might be for the smallest thing, but gratitude lifts despair and helps me keep things in perspective. For a while I kept a daily list of things to be thankful for just so I could train my thoughts to think that way. From small things like the ocean beauty I look at to big things like being alive......there is so much to be thankful for.
Hope is like the oxygen I breath, and gratitude is like the blood coursing through my veins. Both are vital. Both protect us from sinking in the stormy trials. Both keep us focused on the Lord. He is our lifeline!
"Give thanks in all circumstances." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good." 1 Chronicles 16:34
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...and be thankful." Colossians 3:15
"His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1
I have sat down several times to write this update today. Each time I have been interrupted by something. It's been a busy day - a couple things have been frustrating. So, I started with being thankful - and then wrote the update. Thankfulness puts everything in perspective. :)
About the Author: Sally McClung is a member of the All Nations International Leadership Team and is co-founder of All Nations. Her husband, Floyd McClung, was a world-renown missions leader. Floyd went to be with Jesus in 2021. He is the author of 16 books, including the best-selling books, “The Father Heart of God” and “Living on the Devil’s Doorstep.”
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