Two minute read.
As we begin to consider Christmas and the way we celebrate the coming of Jesus, I want us to look before us and beyond us. Somewhere, where we will find Process And Gratitude.
There is a Proverb which states:
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3b
Proverbs is a compilation of the third King of Israel, King Solomon. A King who asked of God to give him wisdom. Solomon however became discouraged with life itself. He lost his sense of gratitude in living.
Most of us can empathize with him since we too often struggle to be grateful. There are critical times in life where we need to live our way into new ways of thinking.
Jesus challenged us in the 1st chapter of the Gospel of Mark with this statement:
It’s time to rethink the way you’ve been thinking.
Everyone of us have been caught, here or stuck not just once but a number of times. Can you think of some of those times in your life?
Jesus often told those with: eyes to see and ears to hear, that with God there is a NEW WAY NOW to live out our lives. There are New Ways to Process life that can TRANSFORM the outcomes we’re hoping for.
So here’s a great place to begin. What are those OUTCOMES you desire?
Have you ever thought about how God has placed in your life things that you can not – not do? Frederick Buechner names those things this way:
“The place God calls you and me to… is the place where your deep gladness and worlds deep hunger meet.”
“Gladness” is a word paralleled in many Medical Science reports as the advantage of – Gratitude. Gladness is the outcome of the Gratitude that is being practiced in one’s life. Social Behavioral scientists also include Grace as a result of Gratitude. Check this final piece for today.
What Happens When We Practice Gratitude
- We boost our Immune System creating better health outcomes.
- Reduces Stress which is the cause for 90 percent of Doctor visits.
- Improves sleeping habits.
- It is an often cited reason for an increase in an individual’s Self Esteem.
- It proves that reframing (looking differently at a problem) multiplies your options to find a better solution.
- We become far more likely to reach out to others in need.
MC
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