There is what is known as the force of gratitude. Sounds huge? Let’s break it down. Ideally, when someone gives you a gift or offers a compliment, you ought to say thank you because it shows courtesy, that you are well brought up and not a country bumpkin.
Also, it’s a sacrifice on the person’s side. They decided to give you out of love or they saw that you needed something.
Even with a compliment, the person took his or her time to really look at you and decide to appreciate you for how you dressed, your hair, how clean your nails are, or how nice you smell. They noticed you.
The least you can say is thank you with a very genuine and friendly smile.
If someone pays you a compliment about how good your grades are, say thank you. That’s the force of gratitude.
The Bible tells us to be thankful and that when we are grateful for what we have, we will receive more.
There are lots of people out there looking for who to notice them and would be grateful to just have one person say to them “you look good.”
I believe you have understood the force of gratitude. Therefore, remember to say thank you the next time you get a gift or compliment.
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for all I have. Thank you for providing for my needs. Thank you for the compliments I have gotten and will get. Help me to always appreciate whatever I receive from others. Amen.
Action plan: Consciously be aware of people’s compliments. Ensure you reply with a smile and “thank you.”
Declaration: My children are grateful. They show appreciation in all they do.
I was thinking about why they are called magic words. Are they really magical in the use of them or they are merely nursery rhymes, we learnt when growing up?
I believe these words are truly magical. Just as the Bible says that soft answers turn away wrath
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Pro 15:1
In marriage, words are so important because in marriage what we do basically is talk. We express our feeling, our emotions, our thoughts, our insecurities, and all these could either be positive or negative.
Communication is however not complete until what we are saying is understood by the other party. Ninety percent of the quarrels in marriage can and would be avoided if we follow the Bible injunction of using soft answers.
Couples who have mastered the art of speaking in certain ways or using certain phrases in their marriage have been more successful in avoiding strife.
It really works, when my husband and I started saying to ourselves, ‘I cannot fight you, we are one and we are joined together. It helped us better resolve whatever was bothering us.
As insignificant as these words seem, their effects on the hearer work wonders. Remember, God will not come down to help us speak to our spouse. We have to learn the art of being pleasant, speaking calmly, and avoiding harsh words.
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Of course, we are not restricted to just these five words:
1. I am sorry
2. Thank you
3. Please
4. Excuse me
5. Pardon me
We can adapt these words in our different situations. Let learn to stop, calm down before we speak. Don’t let us be rash in our speaking and with our tongue. Let us learn better ways to communicate better.
We can say the same things in several different ways. Let’s also watch our tone and our body language. Respect is important to guys and any form of disrespect, they frown at it immediately.
Dear husband, your wife is an emotional being and they respond to words.
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Psa 55:21
If your words are kind and soft, you will get a better reaction from her. You cannot get the best from your wife if you keep shouting at her and throwing commands at her as though she is your servant.
Make your marriage better by speaking to yourselves more kindly.
God bless our marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I speak with my spouse kindly and respectfully
PRAYER FOR THE DAY I receive help to bridle my tongue
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Register for KHC Couples’ camp meeting.
Gratitude is a great habit to start practicing as early as you can. It is the act of looking for the good things that you have or that have happened in your life and be thankful for them. Look deep into your life and search for things you are enjoying right now. Thank God for them.
Thank God that you have parents who love you and provide for all you need. Appreciate God for giving you a roof over your head, food to eat, clothes wear, friends, and more. Gratitude is a great habit!
When you refuse to be grateful, you are taking for granted God’s blessing over you. You are saying to God that you don’t need Him or that what He is doing for you is not enough. Or that He is not even doing anything for you. But God is always doing something for you. Even if you are being bullied at school, still thank God that you can pray to Him and He will answer your prayers.
Always look around you and find something to be thankful for; gratitude is a great habit for you. Every morning you wake up, thank God for keeping you and your family members alive. Thank Him for the good health you are enjoying. Even if you are sick, thank Him for the medications you are using and the medical personnel that are treating you.
Don’t keep looking at the bad things happening. Search for the good ones. And be grateful for them. Learn to put on the cloak of gratitude. Yes gratitude is a great habit that you can wear, and it will sure do you good.
in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 18:5 AMP
Keep a journal of all the things you are grateful for and check them in a month. You will be surprised at how many items you are going to have in it.
May the Lord bless you with a heart of gratitude. Amen.
Prayer: I am grateful for all the Lord has given me, is giving me, and will give me in the future. Engrave this phrase in my heart: Gratitude is a great habit. Thank You, Lord.
Action plan: Keep a Gratitude Journal and start recording
Gratitude means to declare that you acknowledge something good that you received. It could be a gift or help. How to practice gratitude as a child is what we wish to look at today.
I will exalt You, my God, O King, And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Psalms 145:1 AMP
The psalmist in the above verse is showing this gratitude to God by writing Him a poem to say how grateful he was. That is how to practice gratitude.
Look at this second verse:
Remember [with gratitude] His marvelous deeds which He has done, His miracles and the judgments from His mouth, 1 Chronicles 16:12 AMP
Now the writer here is saying that we should remember with gratitude what God has done for us. You have to just learn how to practice gratitude as a child.
When people show ungratefulness it’s because they forget about what people or God has done for them. They believe that they have never received anything good in their lives. They refuse to say thank you. They refuse to praise God.
When you appreciate people for the good things they do for you, it’s a sign of gratitude. Rather than focus on what you didn’t get, be grateful for the ones you have. Yes, that is how to practice gratitude.
Saying thank you to God every time He blesses you gladdens His heart and He will bless you more.
For the next few days we will look at ways on how to practice gratitude to God and others.
You will also learn how to find things to be grateful for.
May your gratitude always go before God as a sweet smelling aroma in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Prayer: Father, I am grateful for the spirit of showing gratitude at all times. Teach me how to practice gratitude. Thank You dear Father in Jesus name. Amen.
Action point: Look for an empty notebook or jotter to start writing down things you are going to be grateful for as we continue the series.
