Gratitude

“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4

One of the ways we can practice gratitude is by acknowledging how other people bring goodness to our lives. A smile. A helping hand. A gift. A prayer. A word of encouragement. These kindnesses make us feel noticed and valued, encouraging us to be more human and humane as we connect meaningfully with others.

In this season of Lent, we also have an opportunity to practice gratitude as we remember the most extravagant goodness we could ever experience — God’s gift of grace to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Through this sacrificial act, Jesus defeated death and sin, providing us with free and open access to God, securing our place in God’s kingdom forever.

There’s nothing we’ve done to deserve the grace of God and nothing we can do to lose it. Grace is all God’s work to rescue and redeem us, enabling us to be in right relationship with him and others, bringing repair, renewal, and restoration into our places of guilt, shame, and brokenness. In relationship with Jesus, we are gradually being brought back to life as we learn what it means to be part of God’s kingdom, daily experiencing his amazing grace and goodness.

As we go through this day, let’s acknowledge and express gratitude to the people who bring goodness to our lives. They are an extension of God’s grace, and we can give thanks to God for them. Let’s also look for opportunities to bring goodness to others so they, too, may experience the gifts and benefits that come from the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

God, thank you for your extravagant grace provided to us through Jesus. Jesus, our hearts are filled with gratitude for your sacrifice on our behalf. Thank you. Spirit of God, empower us to bring God’s goodness to the people we encounter today.