New Year. New Beginnings.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances.  This is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT)

Robert Emmons is a Ph.D. psychology professor at the University of California at Davis. He has done extensive research on the connection between gratitude and happiness. His major study has shown clearly that people who cultivate a spirit of gratitude are measurably happier.  Nobel Prize winning humanitarian, missionary and theologian, Albert Schweitzer, was correct when he called gratitude, “The secret of life.”

Part of Dr. Emmons landmark study involved two groups.  One group was asked to daily count their blessings, the other group was asked to daily count their burdens.  Both groups recorded their findings and feelings.  The results?  Participants in the gratitude condition were a full 25% happier than the other participants.  They also reported a better sense of health and well-being.

Our scripture verses do this linkage: joy or deep happiness, prayer or constant connection with God, and gratitude, or a spirit of thankfulness. These three (joy, prayer, and gratitude), when practiced regularly, reinforce each other.

But here is the hard part, or so it would seem. The passage from I Thessalonians tells us to be thankful “in all circumstances.” How can we do that? It is easy to be grateful when life is good, but what about difficult times? Here is what I discovered in almost 50 years as a pastor, and Dr. Emmons’s research confirms it. When something or someone important to us is at risk, we discover that gratitude enables us to face the risk with faith and courage.  The single place I have most often heard the word “grateful” is in the hospital.  When there is jeopardy, we turn to our resources—spiritual, relational, and physical—and give thanks.

I’ll bet you would rather be happy than sad, rather be grateful than worried. Well, here’s the secret—today, right now: rejoice, pray, and be thankful regardless of your circumstances.

Prayer

Dear God, at every moment of my life, I have both burdens and blessings. Turn my heart to my blessings that I may be filled with your joy. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

This devotional was written and recorded by Herb Sadler.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.