Gratitude

I am doing some theme sermons on happiness to begin 2010. This series will go through Easter, and is based on the premise that a Christian has an obligation to be happy. Believing as we do in the gospel of Jesus Christ, our lives should reflect a very different attitude than the surrounding culture. After all, this gospel claims to be the best news there is. If it doesn't affect our outlook on life, then what good is it? Nothing less persuasive than a grumpy, cranky, pessimistic Christian.

The basic building block of happiness is gratitude. A person who is grateful for life will have a very different path than the person who isn't, or the one who is simply overlooking the goodness in life. Gratitude is the greatest of all attitude adjustments. The person who is grateful sees abundance everywhere, even in hardship. I cannot overstate the importance of this. If you want to be a happy person, start by expressing your gratitude.

To express gratitude, don't go looking for the big blessing. That is where most people make a mistake. Gratitude begins small. As I write this, I am grateful that my fingers are working well enough to be able to type, which leads to gratitude that I was able to learn this skill. That is how it works. Start small, and see where it leads. It usually leads way past where you thought it would.

Durable happiness, the kind that lasts throughout your life, begins with expressing gratitude.

"...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."