“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
Jimmy Buffet sang a song that became a battle cry for a generation of people that contained the lyrics “It’s those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes; Nothing remains quite the same.” These words seemingly confirming that through the simple act of repositioning oneself to a different physical location, attitudes would change and life would gain.
After 30-plus years of being led by good and not so good people and leading people well and not so well, I have learned that change happens from the inside and the accelerant to change is almost always a heart of gratitude.
I have watched people celebrate a pay raise with momentary happiness and the purchase of ‘needed’ things in their life, only to fall back into the same pattern of frustration in their circumstances, missing the joy component only delivered through a heart transplant of gratitude.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
We have recently done a significant remodel of our house, approaching this overall project with a deep sense of joy and gratitude. There have been momentary lapses where the challenge of a variable in the remodel equation has momentarily robbed the gratitude for the ability and gift of this project.
When we moved from the beautiful neighborhood we were gifted to live to the country setting that was raw and daunting, we at times would recollect on our past home and it efficiencies. For several years after moving we were without a water dispenser and ice maker in our refrigerator. (Yes, I absolutely get what you’re thinking, “what kind of blessed life do you live that this was a joy robber?”). One day we found a refrigerator that fit our space, with water and ice maker. I vividly remember the first time the water dispensed and the beautiful sound of those ice cubes ringing against the glass as they effortlessly fell from the refrigerator’s dispenser. Joy. Gratitude. Thankfulness.
Fast forward several years to the remodel that included a new refrigerator, that again had ice and water dispensing. The new ice maker creates these clever, smaller ice cubes that come at the glass fast and furious. As I was learning how to position and use this new setup, the ice cubes would often miss my ill-positioned glass and land in the floor to which I vented one day, “this ice maker drives me crazy!”
What happened? My gratitude for the gift of ice and water convenience so coveted a few years before was replaced with a sense of entitlement, or at the very least gratitude-less expectation.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17
My point is this, the things we identity and seek, then find and receive often bring momentary gratitude and happiness. Without a heart change that causes shifts from want to contentment, from comparison to appreciation, from current situation to desired position, gratefulness will be fleeting and temporary.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10
Consider today that perhaps God is waiting on our heart to move from desire to gratitude. I encourage you to not wait for something in the future to determined your gratitude in this season. Take a gratitude inventory today, reflecting on every good thing that you have been blessed with and recognize that what is old to you, is a gift of exponential value to someone else. Position your heart to pray, praise and worship for what you do have and witness the changes in gratitude that did not require a change in latitude.
You’ve got this.