Instead of grumbling or taking things for granted why not begin to express appreciation to God and others. Biblical change is a two‑factored process. There is on the one side putting off the old man and it's sinful trends and putting on the new man that is created in righteousness (or Christlikeness). On the one side is stop grumbling and complaining or taking things for granted, but on the other side is start expressing appreciation and becoming a thoughtful, thankful person. Too often the negative side is preached: Stop! Stop! Stop! Actually, I like to start with the positive side of Christianity. Let's become thankful people by starting to express appreciation on a daily basis to God and others. One of the most helpful suggestions that I can give you is to start an appreciation list or lists. Are we conscious of what God has done and what He is doing in our lives? Make a list. Here are some suggestions.
Common Blessings
Thank God for the common blessings have has provided. When was the last time you thanked God for the beautiful world we live in? David said, "Behold the handiwork of God.”. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, he said". He daily reflected on the wonders of God's creation. We talk about the weather, "It's too cold, too hot, too wet, too windy, too this, too that, on and on ad infinitum, ad nauseam." When is the last time you thanked God for the various colors of creation? Imagine everything just one color. When was the last time you thanked God for the eyes that He gave you to enjoy it all? When was the last time you thanked God for your ears? What greater joy is there than to hear your wife say” I love you." It doesn't get any better than that. I get great pleasure from my grand-daughter Bella flinging her arms around me and saying "I love you pop pop." Think of the joy we would lose if we couldn't hear. These are the common blessings. They are blessings for both Christians and non-Christians.
Special Blessings
Thank God for the special blessings unique to your life, such as:
Special people:
Rev. Bob Grossman spent time with me. He discipled and nurtured me from my salvation until I went into ministry. You don't know this man. He is special to me, and I am deeply grateful for the time he spent with me and the many things he taught me. Who has not been helped by someone?
Special parents:
God planned billions of years ago when I would be born and in what family I would be born. We are born during the Church Age, and we should be thankful that we are not under the Mosaic Law. Sometimes young people wish they were born in another family. God selected your parents, the time in which you would be born and the country in which you would be born, as the Scripture says, "In Him we live, move and have our being." (Acts 17:26).
Special family:
Make a list of at least ten things for each member of the family and begin to daily express your appreciation for them. For parents who would like to teach their children to become more grateful, you can put up an appreciation list on the refrigerator and ask everyone to daily "Count Their Blessings." Then at supper review the list or count the blessings. It is a great way to put into practice and develop an attitude of gratitude.
Special circumstances:
Some of these circumstances are difficult, and God sends them to mold us. The Psalmist writes, "The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in His Way." (Psalm. 37:23) This doesn't say everything will be pleasant. No, many things will not be pleasant, but they are ordered and arranged by God. Notice he delights, that is he is thankful for the special circumstances which God sends to mold him. When we are faced with a difficult circumstance, we ought to be asking what quality is the Lord trying to develop in me? Not "why me, woe is me, not again, good grief" or other negative emotional expressions that we use. It would be a good idea to read, ponder, and memorize Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, and James 1:2.
Special protections:
There are times when we experience God's wonderful protection. I often am mindful when driving how easy it would be for me to have an accident. I thank God for his daily protection to and from work and as I drive around our area.
Special opportunities for service and learning:
You should list the people in the church who are a blessing to you: your pastor, others that serve in the church, your brothers and sisters in Christ. Send a card. Make it short and specific, but encourage one another and build one another up. It is easy to be thoughtless and hurt others. It is better to heal and mend and build‑up one another. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone in church heard from everyone in church, by a card, telephone call or a note of how grateful to God we are for them?
Spiritual blessings:
There are many things that God has given us to help us grow spiritually. Have we thanked Him for the Bible or the Holy Spirit who is guiding us, helping us, and strengthening us every day? When you accepted Jesus Christ as personal savior, at least 36 wonderful spiritual blessings were given to you. How many of these can we list? They are all in the Bible. Have we taken God for granted?
Helpful Suggestions:
1. Develop an appreciation list so that everyone in the family can participate. Display it in a prominent location. When our children were little we used the refrigerator. We asked everybody to place something on the list that they were thankful for. We shared them at supper and if someone forgot we wrote their blessing in at that time. I remember spending a little time with my daughter without her brothers around. Then I read the blessing "I thank daddy for playing with me today." I thought nothing of it, but to her it was important. If you have little children this exercise will provide some pleasant surprises.
2. Begin with a daily reading of the Book of Psalms. Read David's praise songs to God. Here is a great Bible study to do. Take the categories above and begin to list the variety of ways that David expresses appreciation to God. The following will get you started:
Common blessings: Psalms 139:14; 19:1, Special blessing: Psalms 23, Psalms 146‑150, 68:19,20, Spiritual blessings: Psalm 51, 119
3. Psalm 103:2 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits." Study this Psalm and find at least 20 benefits. Express your appreciation to God.
4. For men only. Study Proverbs 31:10‑31 and list at least 20 ways this woman is praised by her husband. Don't forget to "go and do likewise".