This past Sunday the minister mentioned the “spiritual discipline of thankfulness” in his sermon “Choose to Be Thankful” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), so this seemed an opportune time to add Thankfulness/Gratitude to our list of spiritual practices.

“Gratitude is a loving and thankful response toward God for his presence with us and within this world.  Though “blessings” can move us into gratitude, it is not at the root of a thankful heart.  Delight in God and his good will is the heartbeat of thankfulness.”

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  —  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

From Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, p 29.