Words of LIFE: Practice Gratitude

Practice Gratitude By Michael Ellison Some of the most important questions you can ask yourself as you pursue wellness are, "How grateful am I really? To whom am I grateful? How am I expressing my gratitude?" Prior to my health crisis, I was grateful for many things I had accomplished, acquired and experienced. But gratitude was not a dominant emotion for me and I certainly was not intentional about expressing it. When I hit my health crisis and became a Wellness Seeker, I had to rethink and reshape my life. I came face to face with my ambitions and competitive drive. I had to answer the question, "Where did all my ambitious energy and competitive drive lead me? What has my perfectionism brought me?" The answers were not good. My intense striving to achieve goals took me to a place of intense pain and weakness. While reflecting on my own pursuit of success, I frequently said, "I'm just grateful to be alive. I'm grateful to have a chance to redo some things. I'm grateful for a loving family to help me through this. I'm grateful I can still think and make changes." I found myself grateful for the simple things—a long night of sleep, renewed energy and signs of returning strength. I found myself grateful for the things I was learning about wellness. I also developed a mindset of wanting to enjoy the process. Frankly, I never thought much about pleasure in the journey when it came to the goals in my first 50 years of life. I played to win. Only winning was important. Enjoying the process was entirely secondary. Today, as I pursue wellness, I truly enjoy the process. I am grateful for every day and each good thing that comes into my life. The "good thing" might be an hour playing with a grandchild on the floor, a quiet walk with my wife or reading a letter from a person whose life has dramatically improved since they became a Wellness Seeker. Gratitude is far more than spoken words or written notes to say "Thank you;" it must become a perspective. Developing an "attitude of gratitude" means, first of all, that you place new value on the things that are truly important in life. Gratitude often requires an adjustment in priorities. Ask yourself, "What am I most grateful for today?" The more you focus on the things and people for which you are deeply grateful, the more you will shift your focus from what you don't have to what you do have. That shift in perspective can be as dramatic as a sudden earthquake. A positive, uplifting cycle takes hold. Gratitude for what is creates an increased level of alertness for what might be. People with gratitude enjoy greater enthusiasm for life. That enthusiasm generates an abundance of determination, optimism and energy. There's a deep feeling of joy—being blessed, satisfied and well-nurtured. When you believe your life is filled with satisfaction and meaning, you experience a sense of abiding purpose and fulfillment. Psychologist Robert Emmons, Ph.D., has spent 20 years studying what makes people happy. He has concluded, "When people consciously practice grateful living, their happiness will go up and their ability to withstand negative events will improve." Perhaps the simplest way to make gratitude a focus of your emotional well-being is to keep a Gratitude Journal. Every day, or at least once a week, write down the things for which you are grateful. From time to time, take a few extra minutes to write down why you are grateful for these things in your life. Attitude and gratitude researchers assert that you can choose to have gratitude even if you don't feel thankful. Emotions follow thoughts. You can choose to concentrate on the blessings in your life. The more you think on the good things, the more thankfulness you will feel. Your heart and head will come into harmony. Over time, what you consciously think about will become your basic attitude and perspective. Intentionally choose to express gratitude every day. Adapted from Michael Ellison's book 10 Keys to Creating Wealth and Wellness. Michael Ellison's "Journey To Wellness" is a part of "Your Body, His Temple."   Michael Ellison: Why do we need to dedicate our bodies to the Lord? Watch now.   Get in shape for the new year — both physically and spiritually! Learn more about the series, "Your Body, His Temple."   Dr. Caroline Leaf: How can "toxic thinking" negatively affect your health? Watch now.   Marty Copeland: Discover the spiritual root of "comfort foods."Watch now.   Forward this devotional. Read more Words of LIFE online. Send us your feedback on this devotional. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe to Receive your own Words of LIFE every week!

Fwd: Words of LIFE: Discover Who You Are This New Year

Discover Who You Are This New Year by James Robison While many people are making New Year's resolutions, I'm praying for a supernatural recognition of who believers are in Christ. We are kingdom people—no longer orphans, but sons and daughters of almighty God and members of the family of faith. Together, Christians are the body of Christ – blood-bought, born-again believers. We must recognize who Christ is in us and who we are in Christ. Even as Jesus was about to ascend into heaven, His followers were still asking, "Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" They were focused intently on a physical realm rather than the spiritual reality Jesus continually presented to them. The Lord reminded them in His departing words that the times and seasons belonged to God, but they were to tarry until they received the fullness of His Spirit. Then they were to be witnesses of the kingdom to the ends of the earth. Jesus promised He would not leave them as orphans, but that He would send another one of the same kind – the Holy Spirit – to live in them. In a brief period of time, thousands were added to the church because of the witness of these Spirit-filled believers. In the Book of Acts, they were referred to as "those who had turned the world upside down." The fact is, they were turning an inverted world order right-side up. In his classic book on the kingdom, scholar and theologian Dallas Willard told the story of a fighter pilot who attempted to ascend, but instead flew straight into the ground. Unknowingly, the pilot had been flying upside-down. Willard pointed out that our prevailing irrational academic mind-set has much of our society, and the church, unknowingly living with an upside-down worldview. Because we don't understand our present condition, decisions lead us toward continual catastrophic crashes in everything from relationships to security and economic stability. We seem unable to make wise decisions because we have not submitted our lives to the appropriate reverential "fear of the Lord." Most professing believers fail to understand they are truly children of God and joint heirs. They see themselves as orphans and live as slaves, when in reality, God has set us free. As Paul declared to the Galatians, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Gal 5:1, NIV) Most people go to church buildings and do not recognize that God does not dwell there. He is not to be found in buildings built by hand but in our lives because we are "the temple of the Holy Spirit." The only way God's glory and power permeate a worship house is when people come in filled with the glory and presence of our mighty God. I am praying that every person I can possibly influence will come to recognize their importance in fulfilling God's kingdom purpose. Years ago, when I was exhausted, but seeking God with all my heart and knowing that I loved Him, He revealed to me that I had come to understand what was in His heart, but everything in His heart was not my part. I couldn't accomplish all He willed to do. I had to discover my part in God's heart and fulfill it. He made clear to me that in order to fulfill my part, I am to help others understand their importance in fulfilling kingdom purpose and discover their part in God's heart. We are not all the same, and we do not all have the same gifts or assignments. But every one of us is just as important in fulfilling God's eternal purpose as the other. We must learn how to better relate to one another. It is only when we are properly connected to each other and submitted to Christ as the head that He is clearly revealed through His body—the church. I've recently encouraged people to get the book The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews, which shares the scientific law known as "the Law of Sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Conditions." In essence, this law demonstrates that the motion of a butterfly's wings can move molecules of air to the point that a hurricane is created on the other side of the world. Andrews uses this illustration to show the potential every person has on impacting others and even the world by their obedience to God's will. I want to help everyone recognize that Adam made the worst swap in history when he traded sonship for orphan status. His attempts to cover his guilt by his own efforts and mere fig leaves were as futile as people trying to practice religious behavior and traditions in order to earn forgiveness and salvation. Jesus paid it all. He gave His life to give us life. Jesus freely offers us everything we will receive. As Peter said, He gives us everything pertaining to life and godliness. This means every aspect of life. He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. It has nothing to do with things, even though God said He has given us "everything richly to enjoy." The fact is, you can't enjoy anything—including riches—if you have not discovered the fullness of life Christ freely offers. Paul swapped orphan status in order to gain sonship. Christ made it possible. Paul said he "counted all things but loss," actually dung or rubbish, in order to know Him. Nothing in this world compares with simply knowing Christ as He is. Christians know that we have future assurance of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven and yet fail to recognize the kingdom of heaven is in us here and now. What good is it to have car insurance on a car that won't run? God did not just promise life in the "by and by," but also in the here and now. Jesus says we do have it and that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It is within us, and it is to be released through us. It is this power and the glory of God that will turn our upside-down world right-side up. Since we are new creations in Christ and ambassadors for Christ, why don't we begin to live like it? We can become the clear answer to Jesus' prayer that we "be one with the Father and perfected in unity." If God has said we are to call Him Father, surely we can receive the grace to call one another "brother and sister." As you begin the new year, allow the river of God's life and love to be released toward others. Focus on God and His kingdom purpose, and He will readjust your focus and sensitivity to the needs of others. Ask God to enable you to directly impact and influence someone or some family with particular needs in their life. Don't try to convert them to your belief system. Allow them to see that your mind has been so transformed you are experiencing the life Jesus revealed. Let's join together, yielding to the promise of the Father, fullness in the Spirit, and become witnesses at home and to the ends of the earth. We can be the great difference-makers on planet Earth because Jesus has made an obvious difference in us. Be encouraged by Paul's words to the Philippian Christians: "If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." (Phil. 2:1-4, The Message) Video Words of LIFE: Lisa Bevere explains how to write something "on your heart." Watch now.   Video Words of LIFE: Need a new job? Andy Andrews says it's always possible to do something. Watch now.     Get in the Game: The regular season is ending and so is the Bible study. Now it's time for everyone to "step it up!" Watch now.   Get in shape for the new year — both physically and spiritually! Learn more about the series, "Your Body, His Temple."
Forward this devotional. Read more Words of LIFE online. Send us your feedback on this devotional.	Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe to receive your own Words of LIFE every week!