Thankful In It All | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Long before therapists recommended the practice of gratitude, God’s word was talking about it. Modern science has simply confirmed what the Bible has been saying for centuries. In the last couple of decades, studies have proven that practicing gratitude on a regular basis improves psychological, physical and social well-being.
Scientists agree that gratitude changes the wiring in our brains, specifically through the release of hormones like dopamine and serotonin, which improve mood. An interesting fact is that these hormones are released whether an individual is giving or receiving the gratitude. The more consistently gratitude is expressed— either by a person or to that person— the stronger those neuro-connections become, leading to a more fulfilling and happy life.
How has this been observed in scientific research? Certain studies have shown that gratitude releases the built-up pressure of negative emotions, like anxiety and sadness. It also has had observable results of reducing physical pain, regulating stress, and improving sleep quality (Chowdhury, 2019).
You and I both know that our brains don’t work like this by accident. God has meticulously designed our neurons to function this way, and understanding this brings greater meaning into scriptures that address gratitude.
To his first century audience, Paul wrote very plainly— “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” God’s will for us is to learn to be grateful in both the highs and lows of life, to be thankful in it all. That’s a big statement since a lot of people are out there wondering what God’s will is for their lives.
God’s will is like a path He wants us to travel; the map to it can be found in the pages of His word. He wants for us to walk this path in a manner worthy of the calling (Ephesians 4:1) — to act like the person we’re becoming in Him.
He wants for us to experience fulfillment in this life, to be happy and to feel calm and free from fear. He wants our chemicals to balance and our brains to function in a healthy manner. And He’s known for a long time what science is just now discovering: thankfulness is a key.
Sister, walk the path God marked out for you today. Do those tasks and love those people. You were made for this! Made to ride the waves of highs and lows in life and made to be thankful in it all.
REFERENCE:
For Your Journal
Find It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Fix It:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
Be thankful in it all!
Practicing gratitude is God’s will for me.
Feel It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
Jesus, it’s fascinating to learn about how my brain functions. Thank you for making me the way that I am and for giving gratitude such a powerful role in my mental health. As I discipline myself to replace negative thoughts with grateful ones, please balance out the chemicals in my brain. Help me to trust you and to have eyes to see the good things in life. Holy Spirit, give me grace to handle the highs and lows of life and to be thankful in it all. Amen.