Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:11-12 NLT
“Gratitude is the healthiest human emotion.” Perhaps you’ve heard that statement, originally made by Zig Ziglar. But it’s more than a statement. Numerous psychological studies have shown it is true – not only does gratitude lower your heart rate and improve your sleep, but it has also been shown to reduce bodily aches and pains and have numerous other beneficial effects. But by far the greatest benefits are psychological.
Paul wasn’t privy to that information medically, but God showed it to him as one of his life principles. Paul was able to be healthy and strong from the inside out. We all know it’s easy to be grateful when people support you, when you are winning, when your health is great, when everything is up and to the right. The challenge is to be full of gratitude even when you lose, when you don’t have what you want or even feel like you need. Paul knew this, and he knew that gratitude is not a natural emotion we either have or we don’t. It’s a skill to be developed. Paul said he had LEARNED it.
We need to learn it too. Paul recovered from the worst of situations. He was able to find God and good in every situation. Being able to find what is good in life and be thankful for it will take intentionality and practice. The better you get at this, the closer you will be to God. The more motivated you will be and the healthier your mind and relationships. The longer you live this way, the better you get at this, the stronger and more resilient your mind becomes because no matter what happens to you, you are more focused on God and the good in your life. You give the good more power than your circumstances. Your spirit becomes stronger than your circumstances.
Truth is, we are all naturally better at complaining than gratitude. But when we decide to believe that God is good and He is totally FOR us, we know there is always something for which to be grateful. Gratitude fully realizes reality and faces it, but also always knows that God is good and is working.
It’s almost impossible to focus on more than one emotion at a time. When you are full of gratitude, it’s hard to be full of fear, sadness, doubt, negativity, and anger. Paul learned that. Aren’t you grateful? That’s why we have all of his helpful letters. What can gratitude do for you?
- Gratitude is a daily decision. How can you remind yourself to choose it?