Use Gratitude to Combat Stress

Feeling stressed?

In the Psalms we repeatedly see signs of David’s grateful heart. It was this perspective that allowed him to persevere in his many times of trouble and to accomplish wonderful things for the kingdom of God. Adopting an attitude of gratitude in the midst of everything that is 2020 can help you persevere and prosper as well.

Psychologically, an attitude of gratitude keeps your perspective right side up. It lowers your biological stress response and helps ward off negativity, which by the way, does nothing but deplete energy, hinder growth, and poison relationships.

Spiritually, it opens your heart to focus on the truth of God. Allowing you to see how small even your greatest problems are when compared to His greatest and goodness in your life.

One way to help keep your focus on gratefulness is to keep a gratitude journal or a short list of things you’re grateful for in clear view.  You can record them in your planner, post them on the refrigerator, or even as a screen saver on your phone. But if you’re stuck in a funk it might be hard just to get started.

• • If you can read this, you are more fortunate than the 1.3 billion illiterate people in the world.
  • If your employer offers some form of health insurance, you are more fortunate than 39% of employees in America.
  • If you have food in your pantry, clothes in your closet and a roof over your head, you are more fortunate than 75% of the people in the world.
  • If you have clean, running water, you are more fortunate than 800 million people around the globe.
  • If you have a savings account, no matter how small, you are more fortunate than nearly 6 billion people in the world.
  • If you can worship as you please, without fear of harassment, imprisonment or death, you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world.
  • And if Jesus Christ is your personal Savior, you are blessed beyond all measure.

When you begin the day with gratitude in your heart, and work to maintain it throughout your day, you tune your mind toward goodness, growth, and grace which in turn bring you calmness even in a sea of chaos.

Be blessed today,

Ann

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1)