The power of gratitude is proven to have a direct effect on our relationship with God, who, in turn, causes us to experience the gifts of giving, which turn obstacles into opportunities. It is truly turning the grace given to us outward to others — and the Lord takes it from there.
Without the power of gratitude, our perspective is limited. We are unable to see that all aspects of life are gifts, even the worst situations. Through the power of gratitude, we recognize that even steep challenges are making us into who we are. And it is there we first meet the greatest gift, which is Grace. It is Grace that completely changes the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
I wonder if I am alone when I say I feel like I am conditioned to approach life from a place of scarcity – where there are never enough resources to go around. When living in a place of scarcity, I am not enough, which causes me to feel anxious and fearful.
Only the Holy Spirit can transcend my limits by making real to me what I am made for, which is my real purpose — to give. Even with this thing called money that terrorizes me, makes me angry and causes me to blame everyone but myself, I am made to give.
For me, it is a matter of consciously needing to let go of my anger and focus on what I am made for instead of what I don’t want. I am made to give.
I am made to give. That is the secret. That is where the power is. That is where I find God, for God is always with those who are in need. He is always giving. Giving is what He actively does.
Where to start? Start with the Lord. Choose to live a life of gratitude. I believe the Holy Spirit will take it from there. Through the power of gratitude, giving consistently becomes a part of your every day life. Just like you cannot get fit by visiting the gym over one weekend, you might say we need to “condition” ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit to be where the Lord is, and He is always with the poor. — day in and day out.
I hate to admit that this daily routine is a struggle. Of course I want to be where the Lord is. But I also want to hold on to what is familiar. There are a lot of excuses I harbor when I am living in a scarcity mindset, including not having to be responsible to the woman I love. It is so much easier to blame her for buying groceries. She is worthy of my giving. And did I say I am made to give? And the Lord provides the power in gratitude.
But here is the final thing: what I write is just words. Knowing, in this case, is not enough. Action is required, and that action is required now — not another day.
Trust me, I know what is required to experience the power of gratitude. It is a direct result of my relationship with God, who causes me to experience the gifts of giving which turn obstacles into opportunities. It is simply turning the grace given to us outward to others — and the Lord takes it from there.
John Fischer The Catch 
God gave us the greatest gift of all when he sent his son Jesus to save us. We can never be grateful enough but, thank God thru his grace he gave us this wonderful gift and we can all be saved by the Grace of God.
try again
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Hey John,
Me, too – glass half empty person. But for the last 6 months I’ve been practicing gratitude about 5 days a week by going on a short walk, quieting my spirit and asking God to show me something for which I can be grateful. That may include hearing the songs of birds as I walk or being glad I have a sidewalk or specific persons in my past (or present) and on and on!
Also, in my pastoral work I was involved in community organizing. It was easy to see all the problems on our side of the tracks but via ABCD (Asset Based Community Development) out of Northwestern University (John McKnight & Jody Kretzman) I learned to look for the good things, what we were capable of doing, finding neighborhood champions, etc.
It’s hard to shift a lifetime of wrongheadedness!!
Wayne
It sure is, but thanks for these suggestions!
Amen Pastor John was my first thought to Today’s Catch! Also TY for admitting it’s a struggle 4 you – Please don’t feel along, my friend…I believe it’s a part of all of us! Most Pharisee (like me) simply will not admit it.
Also let me plz mention a great book: “Unlimited Wealth” by a Walton Business School grad & MBA, Paul Zane Pilzner – it’s NOT spiritual but builds on the fallacy of the word “scarcity” which ALL Economics’ books is built on and most state it in the 1st Chapter…
PS Of course I met him & found out about his book from an Amway Biz seminar, which Amway teaches how to open your mind on learn from J. Paul Gettey (sp?) who made a lot of money in Oil and taught he’d rather have 1% of a 100 men than 100% of his own work- And Amway taught me @ that seminar everyone is six inches a making a lot of money – the six inches being the width of your skull that holds your Brian in how you think…
Blessed are You God, King of the universe, Who has given me all I need.
Good beautiful Sunday morning to You, Father!
Thank You for this day that You have made so far, are in the process of creating, and will complete to perfection. I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Thank You for Your gift of this Sunday, June 25th, to me and to all of us on this planet.
Thank You, Father, for ALL of Your blessings:
Thank You for Your provision and Your protection;
Your grace and Your graciousness;
Your compassion and Your Companionship.
Thank You, Father, for Your Love, Your goodness, Your kindness, Your tenderness, Your gentleness, Your faithfulness, Your loyalty, Your dedication, Your commitment, Your Love, love, Love, love, Love, love, Love!!!
Thank You for Your help at ALL times and through ALL things and ALL situations.
Thank You for Your mercies, Lord, which are new right now and will be added to this morning, this afternoon, this evening, tonight, and tomorrow.
Thank You for Your mercies which are new every morning, noon, and night, day in and day out, night in and night out, wherever You are and wherever I am to be found.
Great is Your faithfulness!
Great is Your generosity!
And Great are You, Father, most worthy to be praised!!!
Father, thank You for all the souls You’ve brought into my life both in the past and in the present, and for those whom You’ll introduce to me in the future (whether in person or by other means). Please help me, Father, to be one of Your many blessings to each and every one of those souls – and also to others whom I will never know on this earth but who may still be impacted by the “butterfly-effect” of any of my words or actions.
~
My dear fellow Catchers (you, too, John!),
Do you think you can you find 100 things to be grateful about today? Can you find one hundred blessings each day to thank our Father for?
I hope your answer is yes because I know you can.
If you find it difficult, though, then read on and learn the history behind the 100 blessing challenge:
https://www.ifcj.org/learn/holy-land-moments/daily-devotionals/one-hundred-blessings-2
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Father please, “Help me today not to add to anybody’s burden. Please help me to bring encouragement to others. Where I can, please enable me to comfort. And, when I don’t know, please help me to admit it. When I feel sorrow and sympathy for someone, please help me to say that. Father, please help me to lift the load of the hurting and not to add to their burden.”
~ From Chuck Swindoll’s “Profiles In Character” series of study books:
“A Man of Historic Endurance: Job” (2004)
Thank You, Father, for Your Word and Your Wisdom, Your guidance, Your teaching, Your instruction, Your correction, Your reproof, Your rebuke, Your punishment, Your discipline and disciplines, and rewards.
Father, “If I have found in Your eyes, please teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You.”
~ Exodus 33:13
Please guide me through this day You have made.
Thank You, thank You, and thank You, again Daddy – I love You.
In Jesus’ Name, here am I…
Shalom, Peace –
🙂
Thank you, Bob. This is beautiful. Interesting story about 100 blessings.