Giving Thanks Awakens Flourishing

Two of the most powerful and healthy words known to mankind are, “thank you.” We live in an unthankful and immature culture that demands maximum withdrawals while making minimum deposits. God’s Word reveals purposed steps and selfless strategies leading to true life. Giving thanks is a powerful weapon to break us free from being self-absorbed wishing we had more.

1 Thes 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (NAS)

Business Articles suggest that the biggest turnoff in business is a lack of gratitude. Articles on personal finance indicate that gratitude is the #1 mindset for wealth because it makes you positive and attractive. Health and wellness articles suggest that gratitude is essential for happiness. All of this to say our attitude determines our altitude in every area of life. You can awaken your God-given ability to flourish today!

Prov 17:22   A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (NAS)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison studied people with high levels of brain activity in a region linked to negative thoughts (the right pre-frontal cortex). They produced research that showed how negative thoughts make you more illness-prone. “Negative” brain activity actually weakens the immune system.

A joyful heart truly is good medicine. The fact is that science proves Proverbs 17:22 to be true. Our challenge then is to stay positive in our negative world. The truth is, we don’t stop laughing because we grow old. We grow old because we stopped laughing. We can life our countenance if we lift our confession giving thanks in every situation.

A joyful heart is good medicine for you and everybody around you. A broken spirit affects you and everybody you touch.

We don’t lose our smile. It’s right under our nose. We just tend to forget it’s there over time. Just a little bit of time with newborns and it’s easy to see that we are all born without pessimism. When my daughter, Faith, was very young I threw a ball to her for the first time. She stood there as the ball hit her in the face. She had to learn reactions of defense in efforts of self-protection and self-preservation. After being banged around in life a bit, seeds of pessimism can start to take root.

We learn a lot of self-preserving reactions and attitudes over the course of our lives. Building walls is easier than building bridges. Walls are about protecting me. Bridges are about connecting with others.

Phil 2:1-3 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care – 2 then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 3 Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. (Message)

I’ve watched mature leaders face intense personal pressures that they manage well while attending to the needs of others. Controlling your attitude is the key to having the kind of attitude others can depend on. Do you have an attitude others can depend on? This attitude is the kind of attitude that is filled with deposits of joy and optimism so it can handle withdrawals from those around you who might be having a hard day.

Ps 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

It takes so little to encourage somebody’s day. Make it a point to do so today!

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