Hearts of Gratitude and Spirits of Joy

      I was watching the news recently and the announcer quoted a research study that said people who are grateful and volunteer (to help others) are more likely to be happy, then those who are not grateful or helpful. Hmmm... I always wonder about how much money is spent on such research projects, since they could have saved a lot of money and found the same results in the Word of God. In Philippians 4:6 (ESV), it says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." 

     More specifically, God tells us His will in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." The book of Colossians in chapter 3 verse 15, we are told how to have peace in our lives, "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Who is our peace? Christ Jesus, and how do we get that peace? Believe in Him and be thankful for Him. 

     What if we spent our days grateful and helpful? I wonder, if we as a body of Christ simply focused on these two areas of ministry, how many people would be drawn to God and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord? Seem too simple? Yes, so that makes me think it's even more God-like than man-like. We complicate things and He untangles them and sets them straight. We overthink things, and He's already thought of everything, even before we thought we needed the answers! 

     Praise you Father God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirt for being our joy and support, so we can be filled to capacity and pour Your love into other peoples' lives with hearts of gratitude and spirits of helpfulness and service. 

Psalm 33:21 (ESV) For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.