Thankful

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:5-7

The Bible is full of scriptures that remind us to be thankful. We often ignore these scriptures. It is just so difficult to be thankful all day! Right? Would it surprise you to know that our brains are wired to be thankful

In a Psychology Today article, “The Grateful Brain,” Dr. Alex Korb shows how the brain reacts to gratitude.

National Institute of Health researchers examined blood flow in various brain regions while subjects summoned up feelings of gratitude (Zahn et al, 2009). They found that subjects who showed more gratitude overall had higher levels of activity in the hypothalamus, which controls a huge array of essential bodily functions, including eating, drinking and sleeping. It also has a huge influence on your metabolism and stress levels. … Improvements in gratitude could have wide-ranging effects from increased exercise, and improved sleep to decreased depression and fewer aches and pains.

God created us to be thankful. Peace comes from gratitude. On this point science and scripture agree. So, I challenge you to begin the practice of gratitude today. Start with the little things. Build the habit. Notice the changing of mind, body, and spirit. This is the stuff of miracles.

See you Sunday!
Missy