Gratitude is the heart of Thanksgiving.  Gratitude can change everything…. Think about it.  Gratitude transforms the way you interact with your  relationships.  It fills the empty glass of your emotions.   Gratitude truly is able to say “God has worked all things together for my Good!”

Here are some scripture about Gratitude and Thankfulness:

• Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
• Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• Psalm 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
• Psalm 95:2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
• 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.

For the month of Thanksgiving I want to give you some thoughts on thankfulness and gratitude.  Over this holiday season  as you interact with your family and friends start a discussion about what you are thankful for.  My hope and prayer is that it will create thoughts and actions of gratitude in your life.

Here  are some of the benefits of a Grateful Heart:

1. Reduces Stress – The struggle with stress is attitude and outlook.  Gratitude changes the way you view problems.  Your will recover more quickly from adversity and suffering with a grateful heart.
2. Improves Health – A regular focus on gratitude  can create a significant drop in blood pressure. Patients who cultivate a more positive, thankful attitude after having a heart attack report fewer second heart episodes for up to eight years compared with grumpier patients.
3. Improves Relationships – Their is a lot of research that describe how being positive and thankful can transform any relationship.  A grateful heart lives in the joy of the present and magnifies the positive emotions that build connection.
4. Reduces Negative Emotions – Reducing the focus on negative thoughts is a direct result of gratitude.  It will also greatly improve sleep patterns.  Gratefulness can even reduce the frequency and length of episodes of depression.
5. More Resilient with a High Sense of Self-worth – Gratitude will help you adjust and change with the stress and conflicts that each of us experience.  Several studies showed that people who have experienced trauma developed a more positive outlook after a daily meditation on gratitude. They also felt more motivated and had higher levels of self-esteem.  A grateful heart recognizes others and how they see the value in you.  This can transform the way you see yourself.