Gratitude is an important part of happiness, fulfillment, growth, and success. As a Christian man, I cannot expect continued blessings if I am not grateful for what I have now.
Joy may never come to me if I expect to have peace and joy only when I get something I don't have. I need to be grateful for what I have now.
As I sat in today's Church service, I was reminded of this during the sermon, in alignment with the beginning of my 30 Days Of Gratitude that started on January 1.
I am going to take a moment to be vulnerable with you. God has been working on me for years to tell my story and not hold back. It's been uncomfortable for me, but as I grow in my faith, so does my desire to obey and trust in him with his guidance.
I have suffered from extreme anxiety and panic attacks for nearly my entire life. It first started in middle school, and has been one of the greatest battles of my life to overcome.
With anxiety comes fear and worry, and at some of the lowest points in my life, depression.
Racing thoughts.....
Panic takes over.....
And the vicious cycle continues for hours, days, and sometimes in my life, years.
As I work to grow my relationship with God and trust him, I feel that my anxiety and panic attacks have slowly been getting better, but one thing I know is that I cannot step back in comfort and feel that I am in the clear at any point in my life.
Owe no my friends.....
That is the enemies way of tricking me into thinking I'm good just enough to attack me.
You see, what I have learned is that fear, anxiety, stress, and worry are all language of the enemy, and when I feel any or all of the above, that's when I know that I have allowed myself to focus on the noise and not the whisper of my Lord and Savior.
You see, the enemy has to be loud because he is always far away, trying to yell and scream to get your attention. God however speaks to you in a soft voice because he is always near.
As I learn and grow, I also have realized how much of an impact gratitude has in all of this. I am blessed, and I am grateful at the same time that I deal with anxiety and panic. When dealing with anxiety, it overshadows all other thoughts and feelings, pulling away from the opportunity to be grateful.
That is why it is so important to be consciously grateful. To act in gratitude, not as a feeling, but as an action.
I am grateful today because .....
And fill in the blank !!!!!
Gratitude is not a feeling, Gratitude is an action. Be grateful for everything God has blessed you with and use your gratitude to break free of strongholds to live your life Bold As Lions.
