The Gratitude Gateway to Freedom
Have you ever considered that your suffering may not be a circumstance of your life, but a direct result of your focus? It's a challenging thought, but one we must confront if we are to walk in the fullness of God's Kingdom. The truth is this: you cannot be grateful and suffer simultaneously. One is a state of being rooted in the flesh; the other is a Kingdom principle that demolishes the foundations of pain.
The Unbreakable Law of Focus
In the Kingdom of God, there are spiritual laws just as there are natural laws. The law of focus is one of the most powerful. Whatever you fix your attention on, you will draw into your life. The world teaches you to focus on your problems, your lack, and your pain. But this is the path to perpetual suffering. The self-focused life, the selfish life, is a prison of the mind.
The nature of the unrenewed human mind is to find what is wrong. It is a carnal mindset that is in direct opposition to God. The apostle Paul, speaking under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, reveals this truth in Romans 8:7: "For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God's law, and in fact cannot." This mind-set, fueled by self-interest and a constant assessment of deficiencies, is a breeding ground for discontent. If you stay selfish, you will suffer. It is a divine and undeniable principle.
Biblical Foundation and Kingdom Principles
God's Word provides the antidote to this self-inflicted torment. It's not a complicated formula; it is the simple, yet profound, act of gratitude. Gratitude is a key that unlocks the Kingdom provision already available to you. It is a powerful act of faith, a declaration that God is good and faithful, regardless of what your senses tell you.
Gratitude Is God's Will for Your Peace: The Word of God is clear and without ambiguity. In Philippians 4:6–7, we are given a direct command and a profound promise: "Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The command is not to worry about anything; the practical application is to approach God with thanksgiving in everything. The divine result is a peace that stands guard over your heart and mind, protecting it from the enemy of suffering.
Gratitude Is the Gateway to Freedom from Lack: The selfish heart is always looking for more, always fixated on what it lacks. This is a spirit of poverty. The grateful heart, however, is a heart of contentment, which the Bible links directly to God's abiding presence. Hebrews 13:5 says, "Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you." The contentment born from gratitude removes the shackles of perceived lack, for your confidence is no longer in what you have, but in the One who will never leave you.
Rhetorical Challenge
Consider two individuals walking the same road. One is consumed with what they don’t have—the perfect job, the ideal spouse, the healthy body. This person is walking with the chains of suffering, no matter their outward circumstances, because their focus is on lack. The other person walks the same road, yet their eyes are open to the blessings of each step—the breath in their lungs, the sun on their face, the provision of a meal. They are filled with peace and joy, for they are operating under a different law—the law of gratitude. They have entered the Gratitude Gateway.
Why are so many Christians suffering?
Because they have been taught that suffering is a part of the faith walk. But I challenge you today with this truth: Self focus creates suffering because the nature of the human mind is to find what is wrong. If you stay selfish, you will suffer.
What is the fastest way out of suffering?
Appreciation.
Call to Action and Assessment
Now is the time for a shift in your mindset. This is not a suggestion; it is a call to action. Take an honest Christian living assessment of your life. Are you a person of complaint or a person of gratitude? Your answer will reveal the purpose you are currently living out.
Question: How can you intentionally move your mind from a focus on your problems to a focus on your blessings?
Answer: By taking control of your thoughts, casting down every negative imagination (2 Corinthians 10:5), and deliberately speaking words of thanksgiving, both in private and out loud.
Question: What is the potential of a life lived in constant gratitude?
Answer: The potential is limitless! A grateful life is a peaceful life (Philippians 4:7), a powerful life (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and a life that fully demonstrates the character of Christ (Philippians 2:3-4). You will not only be free from suffering, but you will also become a channel of God's blessing to others.
Make the choice today to walk through the Gratitude Gateway.
You cannot be grateful and suffer simultaneously.
You cannot be grateful and suffer simultaneously.
