Written by Debbie West
05/13/2018
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“Let the message of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish each other with all wisdom through songs, hymns and songs of the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” - Colossians 3:16
Complaining is the easy way. Gratitude is the mature way.
Think about the most spiritually mature person you know. Most likely,
 they have an attitude of gratitude. Even though they may be going 
through hard times, they are grateful for something.
It is so easy for me to complain when I find myself in the middle of 
difficult circumstances. Even little annoyances can send me off to 
“vent” to a friend or co-worker. But when I stop and think about all 
that is going well in my day, it makes things better. It helps to think 
about all that God has promised me, including the fact that He is with 
me.
When I get frustrated by something at work, I can be grateful that 
God has given me a job. I can be grateful for the people around me for 
whom I can pray. When I have to pay my bills and there’s very little 
left over, I can be grateful that God has provided all that I need. When
 that driver cuts me off and I have to slam on my brakes, I can remember
 that I, too, can get distracted. I can thank God that He guided my 
attention and protected me.
Our attitude is always a choice. The best choice is to stop, reflect,
 and be grateful for all that God has given us. And, as believers, we 
can help each other grow in gratefulness.
Lord, help me be more grateful. Help me to see the areas in my 
life where you have blessed me, instead of seeing the problems. Amen.
Go Deeper — If gratitude is a quality you would like
 to cultivate, start a gratitude journal. Write down five things every 
day for which you are grateful. As time goes on, you might have a hard 
time limiting it to five.
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