Gratitude.
Merriam Webster defines it as a state of being grateful.

It’s not a day on the calendar or an obligatory part of prayer life. Gratitude is a condition of the heart. A way of living and being that is beyond skin deep. Some call it optimism. Some say you “see the glass half full.” Many chalk it up to genetics or personality. But not me. I believe it’s what happens when we continue to grow in our love for God and others. It’s an overflowing of the state of our hearts.

Gratitude isn’t determined by our happiness or living in an untroubled season. Gratitude is trusting and knowing God With Us.

Just this morning I read in Acts about a time the apostles were put in jail by the high priest and officials. During the night an angel opened the gates and sent them to the Temple to share the good news. You can imagine the fury of the leaders. Though they wanted them dead, they decide the best course of action was a flogging. Basically they were beaten with instruments of torture. It was meant to teach them a lesson. to never speak the name of Jesus again.

Take a look at what happens next.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And everyday, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
Acts 5:41-42 NLT

They walked away beaten, bruised, and bloody. Shamed by the leaders of their own faith. And what did they do? They rejoiced that God counted them worthy to suffer. While they probably didn’t give thanks for the physical pain of their punishment, in their love and desire to tell others about Jesus they counted it all joy.

I’m not sure I could do it. I’m more prone to hide away and lick my wounds. Not once in my life have I considered suffering from the perspective of being counted worthy by God. Yet they did. I can’t help but ask why? Why was this their immediate reaction? And the bigger question… why is it not mine?

Maybe the key is gratitude. Hearts so full of faith in the Messiah that no amount of suffering will deter the passion to share Good News.

Faith that doesn’t bypass the pain with “time heals all wounds.”
Faith that’s not dependent on good times or bad.
Faith that knows in moments of sheer joy and utter sorrow God is right there with us.

Jesus tells his disciples,

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 NLT

So how do we “take heart”. How do we live rejoicing in a broken, hard world? How do we remind ourselves that Jesus has overcome the world when our world is falling apart? I believe we cultivate gratitude each and every day. We remind ourselves who God is and what God has done. In other words we practice praise and thanksgiving. These are the spiritual tools that transform our hearts.

Eugene Peterson writes Psalm 100 like this

Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
    Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
    Thank him. Worship him.

As you prepare to celebrate a day of thanks-giving. May you be at home deep within, talking praise after praise with those you love. May you thank him in your joy and sorrow.

May you discover gratitude leads you into the very presence of God With Us.