We’re suspicious that one of the primary reasons God urges us hundreds of times in the Bible to be thankful is because He knows how beneficial it is to our true, created identity and how detrimental it can be to our compulsive one, that never feels like it has enough of anything.

It’s also fascinating when we realize gratitude is the healthiest emotion to have.  It leads to emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, and relational well being.

Here is a brief summary of today’s episode of “The Live True Podcast.”  You can use this as a reference or reminder of key things you feel like you need to pay attention to or pass on to others, in the next 7 days of your life.

Very often, we hate that we don’t have what we think we want. We think we need more or deserve more and it drives us crazy that we don’t have it in the moment.

The transformational practice of gratitude is to: Love what you have, instead of struggling with what you don’t have.

Few of us take regular inventory of ALL we do have.   We’re aware of some things, but not many of the things we have, that we normally don’t take enough time to see and enjoy.

Here are just a few of the many assets you’ve been given:  

A.  Financial capital:   financial resources to spend, save, and give.

B.  Intellectual capital:   intellectual abilities and a vast array of knowledge.

C.  Physical capital:   time and energy and a physical body that is beyond amazing.

D.  Relational capital:   relational equity and love available to invest in the quantity and quality of our relationships.

E.  Spiritual capital:   faith, wisdom, power, and much more, to use in experiencing and expressing the kingdom of God here and now.

Psalm 34:8  “Taste and see that the Lord is good…”

Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

 Psalm 136:1  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

 James 1:27  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

So how does one practice this?

•  Sitting still or with a couple of family members or friends and force yourself to find 5 new things you’ve never recognized that you have.  And then express thanks for them out loud.  Then pause for a moment, and enjoy one of them, instead of just recognizing them.

•  Sit with a journal and force yourself to find 5 new things you’ve never recognized that you have.  Write them down.  And then express silent gratitude for them.  And then pause for a moment, and enjoy one of them, instead of just recognizing them.

To find out more, listen to this podcast in its entirety by clicking on the above play button.  

Join the Conversation

Our favorite part of doing these podcasts is participating in the conversation they provoke. Each week, we’ll ask one question. This week, it is this:

Question: “Where do you wrestle or struggle “accepting what is?” “What’s been your experience with this?”

Ask Us a Question

If you have a question, comment, or thought to share with us,  we’d love to hear from you.  Simply click here: “COMMUNICATE w/ David & Caron.”

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