Series: It's All Good
Message: The Art of Gratitude 
Preacher: Dena King
Daily Walk: Dena King

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 109:30–31.

Read: Luke 17:11–19 (NLT). As you read the New Living Translation, note 1–3 insights.

Reflect: As I sat listening to my friend’s latest rant, I thought to myself, “She doesn’t realize how good she has it. She would be so much happier if she just realized how good her life is.” This had become a common pattern and although there were things she complained about that I could sympathize with, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated that she was blind to all the good in her life. It is easier to point this fault out in others than to see in ourselves, of course, but I know this is true for me as well. Just as there will always be problems in life, there will also always be good things for which I can be thankful.

As with all of God’s rules, we are commanded to be thankful—not because God needs something from us, but because it is good for us and gives us better lives. 

In Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, David Garland says about the story of the ten lepers, “The disciples had asked Jesus to increase their faith. It becomes clear that a vital faith is faith in Jesus and that it produces gratitude to Jesus. The Samaritan appealed to Jesus, as did the other nine, but he returned to Jesus instead of going off to a priest to get clearance to return to society.” 

Today, take a minute to put aside your worries and meditate for a moment on how good your life is. Spend a moment in gratitude to Jesus. You have worries and problems, no doubt. But in this time here with the Father, take a few breaths and focus on all the good things you have and have been given. 

Recalibrate: ​​​Have I been so focused on the hard things in my life that I’m missing all the blessings I’ve been given? How can we help others see the good in their lives when they are focused on the bad? How can we do this without being annoying?

Respond: Pray for the ability to focus on something positive in a negative situation. 

Research: Visit huffpost.com and search for Dr. Randy Kamen’s 2015 blog post titled “The Transformative Power of Gratitude.”