“Less Attitude, More Gratitude”

Neal Pollard

That little saying is written at the top of on one of the pages at the front of my Bible.  I have no idea who to thank for it or where it came from, but it is a profound statement.  When you consider Israel’s shortcoming, particularly in the wilderness, they typified the problems that attend the attitude without the gratitude approach to life.  God makes clear through His inspired writers that He did not appreciate their grumbling, complaining, and ungrateful state.

Today, despite economic “downturns,” the deflated value of the dollar, market struggles, and the like, Americans still live in the relative land of plenty.  Yet, there continues to be no shortage of ingratitude way beyond the pale of even the levels to which Israel stooped.  Whether it is a sense of entitlement, self-absorbedness, or years of being spoiled, this expectation for ease and disdain for difficulty surely cannot please our Lord.  How can we develop the grace of “less attitude and more gratitude”?

• –Make Thanksgiving A Part Of Your Spiritual DNA, Such That Others Would Associate Gratitude And Thanksgiving With You.
• –Notice The Kindnesses And Favors Done For You, However Big Or Small.
• –Immediately Write Thank You Notes, Call, Or Speak Personally To Those Who Have Done A Kindness.
• –In Prayer, Make Your Expressions Of Gratitude To God Specific And Heartfelt.
• –Try To Notice Your Blessings With Great Concentration, Trying To Discover Even Small Blessings One Normally Would Overlook.
• –Make It A Challenge Or Exercise To Look For As Many Ways You Have Been Blessed As You Can Discover.
• –Try And Find The Potential Blessings In Even Negative Or Hurtful Circumstances.
• –Trust That God Is Powerful Enough To Bring Good Out Of The Worst Happenings.
• –Consciously Work To Break The Habit Of “Whining And Complaining,” Perhaps Asking A Trusted Friend Or Companion To Hold You Accountable And Graciously Accepting It When They Point Out Times You Fall Prey To It.
• –See Trials As Stepping Stones To Good Character And Strength.
• –Realize That Everybody Has Problems And Most People’s Are Far Worse Than Yours.
• –Hold Yourself To The High Standards Of Joy, Peace, And Contentment, Not Settling For The Shame And Mediocrity Of Petty Murmuring.
• –Study The Bible To See How God Handled Those With More Attitude And Less Gratitude.
• –Make It A Deliberate Task In Your Child-Rearing To Strongly Emphasize The Importance Of Showing Gratitude To God And Others, Being Careful To Model It Before Them.