• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Crossroads Professional Counseling

Christian Counseling | Baton Rouge + Prairieville

Providing Professional Christian Counseling and Coaching to the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.

225-341-4147
  • Home
  • Christian Counseling
    • Marriage
    • Individual
    • Family
    • Children and Teenagers
  • Life Coaching
  • Coaching Programs
    • Life by Design Program
    • Career By Design Program
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Sue J. Miley LPC, MA, MBA
    • Suzanne K. Jones, LPC, MA
    • Cheryl Brodnax, LPC, M.A., M.B.A., M.S.
  • Contact Us

Attitude of Gratitude: It Makes an Unbelievable Difference

October 23, 2019 By Cheryl Brodnax

Hi! Thanks for visiting! To make life easier, you may want to subscribe free to my Email feed. !

attitude of gratitude

Have you ever noticed when God wants your attention about something, he keeps putting it in front of your face in different ‘coincidental’ ways? 

Try as I may, I can’t get away from these little messages. They’ll show up in the theme of a devotional, a scripture verse of the day, an app, on a billboard, or in random conversation. The most recent for me has dealt with the topic of gratitude. I’ve seen something referencing gratitude several times a day for a week now; I think God is trying to tell me something.

I’ve always considered myself to be a pretty positive person, until I really reflected on it. In reality, I discovered many times where I was critical, negative, and just a straight-up complainer. I truly believe that this grieves God. We’re commanded to rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances, which is God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians  5:16-18). It doesn’t say the circumstances we feel good about or agree with, but all circumstances. 

Ouch. 

Does this mean when we lose a job, a marriage, a loved one, or suffer an injustice? If it fits under ‘all circumstances’, then I guess the short answer is… yes. Why would God command us to give thanks for things that cut us down?

I believe it’s because he cares more about our joy than our happiness. 

C.S. Lewis states that joy is the “serious business of Heaven”. It’s a state of being. Happiness is an emotion that ebbs and flows. Joy, however, is a constant internal state that is a fruit of the Spirit and accompanied by peace (Galatians 5:22). Being filled with joy and peace is evidence that we are pursuing righteousness and life within God’s will. Giving thanks is mentioned over 100 times in scripture, in many instances as a precursor to sustaining joy and peace (Colossians 3:15-17, Philippians 4:5-7). So if gratitude is a gateway to these fruits, how does it work?

Gratitude glorifies God because it forces us to see his sovereignty beyond, and often in spite of, our circumstances. 

The apostle Paul was a huge giver of thanks despite imprisonments, shipwrecks, and chronic debilitating illness. Even Job learned to give thanks because he realized that God is the only true source of joy and life, even in the midst of suffering. Both were rewarded for their faithfulness. 

Giving thanks makes a statement of hope in what’s to come. God tells us that our current trials are insignificant compared to the glory that he wants to share with those who trust in him (Romans 8:18). Grumbling instead of gratitude is like a slap in the face of all God has and plans to do for his children. 

This is easy to know in theory, but very hard for me to put in practice. I find myself grumbling about the traffic, chores, kids, work, and on and on. Complaining is contagious! If someone near me complains, then I feel almost obliged to complain as well, and I’m content to join in someone else’s vent-fest. What’s worse is sometimes I’m the one who starts it. 

If complaining is contagious, then gratitude is as well. 

We all know someone who is, almost irritatingly, always positive. For these folks, the cup is always half-full, and lemons always become lemonade. I have a love-hate relationship with these people. I love them because I want to be like them; I hate them because I realize how far away I am. The only thing separating us, though, is perspective. They choose gratitude, no matter what.  

Choosing gratitude creates an atmosphere of positivity that keeps the bigger picture in focus. Of course irritations and problems still happen; however, maintaining a thankful spirit means we’re thanking God for loving us, being present, and ultimately giving us a success story. When we choose to live this way, God’s presence infuses our hearts and minds, which ushers in his fruits of joy and peace. This is how we get through daily aggravations, as well as events that bring us to our knees.

Even science falls on the side of gratitude. Many research studies have reported that gratitude can alter brain chemistry and wiring, resulting in affective clinical treatment for anxiety and depression. In these studies, grateful people report better health, less depression, and more happiness than their counterparts. The good news is that gratitude can be learned, practiced, and mastered. All it requires is the will to do so.

I have been quite convicted this week to embrace gratitude. Now that I am becoming more intentional, I’m realizing just how pervasive complaining can be. Giving thanks is all win, there is no down-side. Thanksgiving fosters humility and promotes contentment that just naturally uplifts my day, and impacts those I come across. This is a much better reflection of the Christ that I love, and whom I claim to serve. As the psalmist writes, I choose to praise and give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his love endures forever.

Overcoming grief with gratitude can be hard. If you’re struggling with finding your peace and thanksgiving, Crossroads is here to help you find your way through. Call 225-341-4147 to talk with Cheryl or another Crossroads counselor.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Christian Living Tagged With: christian living, God's grace, gratefulness, Gratitude, relationship with God

About Cheryl Brodnax

My philosophy on counseling is that the client is the expert on their life; and my role as a helper in Christ is to assist clients in processing their experiences, releasing past or present hurts, and developing tools for healing that draw on their own individual strengths and values.

My areas of counseling experience include individual, couple, family, and group counseling for all ages, with a focus on children and adolescent therapy. Areas of focus include treatment for anxiety, depression, stress, behavioral issues, grief, trauma, and relationship distress.

Primary Sidebar

Connect With US

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Blog Categories

  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Career
  • Christian Living
  • conflict resolution
  • Emotions
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Marriage/Couples
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting/Family
  • Transitions
  • Uncategorized

Visit our Christian Business Coaching Site

Crossroads-Professional-Coaching

Where Christian Values & Good Business Converge

Footer

VISIT OUR CHRISTIAN BUSINESS COACHING WEBSITE

Crossroads-Coach-Logo-in-White

SUBSCRIBE FOR RESOURCES, UPDATES AND ARTICLES

CROSSROADS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING

8280 YMCA Plaza Dr.
Building 10-B
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70810
(225) 341-4147

CONNECT WITH US

Facebook-Icon Google-Plus-Icon Linkedin-Icon Twitter-Icon

Copyright © 2023 · CROSSROADS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING | Privacy Policy | Privacy Tools

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT