Editor’s note: Yesterday, we shared a devotion from Tara Beth Leach, author of a wonderful devotional — The Great Morning Revolution. You can read it here and then read today’s.
*
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
On the dusty roads leading to a village, ten men, ostracized and marked by the scars of leprosy, stood at a distance. Their skin marred with sores, they were united by their desperation and separation from society. When they saw Jesus approaching, hope flickered in their weary eyes. They did not come near, for the law kept them bound at the outskirts of life, but their voices carried their plea with urgent clarity.
Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. — Luke 17:13 ESV
Their cry for mercy cut through the murmurs of the crowd, reaching the ears of the Healer. Jesus paused, His gaze sweeping over these men forgotten by society, their bodies ravaged by an unforgiving disease. His response was simple yet charged with an unspoken promise.
Go and show yourselves to the priests. — Luke 17:14 ESV
As they turned and began walking, something miraculous happened. One by one, they noticed the change — their skin restored to purity, the sores receding, the pain easing. They were healed! The realization sparked a tumult of emotions, and nine of them continued on, eager to reclaim their places among their loved ones and in their communities.
But one stopped. The joy that surged through his veins was mingled with an overwhelming gratitude that anchored him in place. This one, a Samaritan, turned back, his steps quickening as he approached Jesus. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he shouted his thanks to God. His voice, vibrant with emotion, echoed around them, a stark contrast to the quiet departure of his companions.
Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?
Jesus asked (v. 18 ESV), His words lingering in the air as a gentle rebuke to those absent and an affirmation to the one who returned.
This Samaritan understood what it meant to give thanks, his heart moved by the profound gift of healing and restoration. His gratitude was not a quiet, private sentiment but a vibrant, living expression of faith and recognition of the divine intervention in his life.
This story from the gospel of Luke reminds us that gratitude begins with an acknowledgment of God’s presence in our lives. Rooted in the Latin word gratia, meaning “grace,” gratitude is more than a fleeting emotion; it is a profound state of being that embodies thankfulness and appreciation. Gratitude is a transformative force that has the power to reshape not only our hearts and minds but also our bodies and spirits.
When we cultivate a grateful heart, we step into a rhythm of life that aligns with the ways God created us to live.
This brings us to the first practice in the GREAT Morning Revolution — Gratitude.
Gratitude invites us to shift our perspective from what is lacking to the abundant blessings that surround us, often hidden in plain sight. By adopting a stance of gratitude each morning, we open our hearts to the endless possibilities of grace and prepare ourselves to encounter God’s goodness woven throughout our daily lives.
The Bible calls us to practice gratitude consistently, reminding us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances.” This is an invitation into a life marked by the presence of God.
- Gratitude opens our eyes to the blessings around us, drawing us closer to the heart of God, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).
The Science of Gratitude
Modern psychology backs up what Scripture has been telling us for centuries: Gratitude has profound benefits. Robert Emmons, a leading expert on gratitude, has demonstrated that gratitude is closely linked with emotional healing, personal growth, and greater over-all well-¬ being. His research reveals that people who keep gratitude journals or regularly practice thankfulness experience significantly improved mental health and resilience over time.1
But the benefits of gratitude extend beyond the emotional. Neuroscientist Alex Korb explains that expressing gratitude activates neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin — the chemicals in our brain responsible for feelings of happiness and contentment. Korb says that gratitude can make us feel better instantly.2 By choosing gratitude, we can actually rewire our brains to be more positive and hopeful. Gratitude helps us reorient our thoughts toward what is good and noble rather than dwelling on negativity.
Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the field of psychological theory known as positive psychology, highlights the role of gratitude in mental health, finding that people who practice gratitude regularly experience higher levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of depression, and an overall greater sense of well-¬ being.3 Gratitude, then, becomes not just an act of thankfulness but also a key to living a fuller, healthier life.
When we express gratitude, we don’t just feel better; we become better.
It changes the way we see ourselves, the people around us, and the world at large. A study by Barbara Fredrickson and Robert Levenson found that individuals who practice gratitude are more resilient, experience less stress, and are more optimistic about their futures.4 In Philippians 4:8, Paul tells us to dwell on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
Gratitude allows us to do just that — it trains our minds to focus on God’s goodness, even in difficult circumstances.
- Not only does gratitude transform our hearts and minds, but it also has measurable effects on our bodies.
Research shows that people who practice gratitude sleep better and wake up more refreshed. Gratitude leads to fewer negative thoughts before bed, creating a calmer state of mind that promotes restful sleep.5 In Psalm 4:8, the psalmist declared,
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
This sense of safety and peace, grounded in trust and thankfulness, allows us to rest well and wake up renewed.
Another compelling finding comes from studies on stress and cortisol levels. When we express gratitude, our bodies reduce their production of cortisol, the stress hormone. This reduction can improve our emotional state, lower our blood pressure, and boost our immune response.6 Philippians 4:6–7 reminds us,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Gratitude guards our hearts and minds by calming our anxieties and giving us peace.
Mindset and Storytelling
From a spiritual perspective, gratitude is the recognition that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God. When we express thanks, we acknowledge his provision and grace. As James 1:17 reminds us,
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.
Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have already received and changes the way we interact with the world around us. Our mindset plays a critical role in how we experience life. If we adopt a posture of gratitude, we align ourselves more closely with the truth of God’s goodness.
Gratitude is deeply tied to the stories we tell ourselves. Our minds are constantly crafting narratives about our experiences. Some of these stories lift us up, while others weigh us down. These internal stories influence how we see ourselves, others, and God. If we continually dwell on negative stories or focus on what we lack, we will struggle to feel grateful.
But we are called to renew our minds and reframe our stories in light of God’s truth. Instead of telling ourselves the story of scarcity, we can tell the story of abundance. Instead of dwelling on disappointment, we can focus on how God has provided in surprising and unexpected ways.
For instance, during a particularly challenging time in ministry, I faced a season of deep personal and professional doubt. The story I told myself was one of insufficiency and anticipated failure. I stopped believing in the gifts God had given me to teach, preach, and lead. The stories I told myself were, You aren’t really called into ministry. You can’t be effective. You don’t have the chops. You aren’t good enough. It colored my interactions and my ability to see the blessings in my life. However, by intentionally shifting my focus to remember the times of God’s evident provision — like the unexpected support from a colleague during a difficult project or the encouraging words from a church member exactly when I needed them — I began to rewrite my internal narrative.
This shift didn’t change my circumstances overnight, but it transformed my perspective, enabling me to approach each day with a heart of thankfulness rather than resentment or fear.
Gratitude renews our minds by shifting our focus from what is lacking to what is already present. It allows us to see life through the lens of God’s goodness, not through the distortions of worldly expectations. In this way, gratitude does not just change our outlook; it changes our entire being, guiding us toward a more fulfilling and spiritually rich life.
Watch the Video
1. Robert A. Emmons, “Why Gratitude Is Good,” DailyGood, June 20, 2011, www.dailygood.org/story/8/why-gratitude-is-good-robert-a-emmons/; Robert A. Emmons and Michael E. McCullough, “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 84, no. 2 (2003): 377–89, https://emmons.faculty.ucdavis.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2015/08/2003_2-Emmons_McCullough_2003_JPSP.pdf.
2. Alex Korb, The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time (New Harbinger, 2015), 151–60.
3. See Melissa Madeson, “Seligman’s PERMA+ Model Explained: A Theory of Wellbeing,” Positive Psychology, February 24, 2017, https://positivepsychology.com /perma-model.
4. Barbara L. Fredrickson and Robert W. Levenson. “Positive Emotions Speed Recovery from the Cardiovascular Sequelae of Negative Emotions,” Cognition and Emotion 12, no. 2 (1998): 191–220, www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/026999398379718.
5. Alex M. Wood et al., “Gratitude Influences Sleep Through the Mechanism of Pre-Sleep Cognitions,” Journal of Psychosomatic Research 66, no. 1 (2009): 43–48, https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/Wood_et_al._2009_.pdf.
6. Rollin McCraty and Doc Childre, “The Grateful Heart: The Psychophysiology of Appreciation,” in The Psychology of Gratitude, ed. Robert A. Emmons and Michael E. McCullough (Oxford University Press, 2004), 230–55.
Excerpted with permission from The Great Morning Revolution by Tara Beth Leach, copyright Tara Beth Leach.
* * *
Your Turn
What do you think might change if you started your days with gratitude to God? What if being thankful to Him throughout even challenging time started an incredible revolution in your life? Are you ready to find out? Pause and think about what you’re thankful for! ~ Devotionals Daily