Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the LORD Always
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Harvard Health says this about gratitude...In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness...Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships...
Gratitude is also the beginning of happiness...Gratitude helps us focus on what we currently have in this present moment, and not something we do not have...Some people believe that you cannot be both grateful and sad at the same time...So choose to be grateful...Think grateful thoughts...When you focus on being, thinking, and feeling grateful - you are focusing on the present moment and are not stuck in the thoughts that are running through your mind...So let us focus on gratitude, so we can feel better and be happier...So when you are focusing on what you have instead of what you do not have, one feels better...Gratitude makes your life be fuller and you feel more abundant...Jesus knew this and was always thinking about how He could help us lead fuller lives and have a more abundant life...
St. Paul knew the importance of God...And God gave him much gratitude...So St. Paul said these things about the subject...As we read through the Saints thoughts, we can see how sharply focused he was on God in his life...
St. Paul wrote: Do not be anxious 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....Rejoice in the LORD always...All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God...Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s Will for you who belong to Christ Jesus...Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you...So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as LORD, continue to live in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness...But thanks be to God!...He gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ...I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace...And be thankful...We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing...Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving...And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him...Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ...You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God...Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful...For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer...I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus...Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!...Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice...And the God of peace will be with you...