1.)
out in the open
2.)
actually giving out of something to God
3.)
giving to God in words what we feel for blessings received.
Both
point to God and His mercy. So, how does love fit in? Love
is born out of gratitude. It grows as we become more grateful, and
eventually can't help but break out into praise and thanksgiving to God.
Psalm
116:1
"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy."
Psalm
116:2
"Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live."
Gratitude
and love lead to growth in prayer - both in frequency and in depth.
Romans
12:1
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."
The
more we see and acknowledge God's mercies we experience gratitude and it
causes us to consecrate to God all that we have and all that we
are.
Gratitude
and thanksgiving always look back at the past, as well as take in the
present. They deal with things received.
Prayer
always looks to the future. It deals with things desired, asked for and
expected. Prayer turns into gratitude and praise when things asked
for are received from God.
We pray for things, and as a result of answered prayer, we experience
gratitude and thanksgiving. Praise and gratitude, in turn,
promote prayer and deeper praying.
SO,
what is my point???
If
we desire to conquer our complaining and murmuring spirit, then we must fill
our hearts with gratitude and thanksgiving! As unappreciative
spirit cannot occupy any place near gratitude and praise. To
correct complaining and promote gratitude and thanksgiving, we need true
prayer. One thing for sure is that dissatisfaction at one's
lot in life and a disposition of discontent with things
that come to us under God's direction are enemies to gratitude and
thanksgiving!
Murmuring
is proof of ingratitude. If we are grateful and appreciative, we
won't have the time nor the disposition to stop and complain.
The
Israelites grieved God with their complaining against Him and
Moses. Only the prayers of Moses stopped God from destroying
them in His wrath. They were not grateful - and of course could
not have praise or thanksgiving. They forgot so quickly what God
had done for them and became ungrateful. As it always does, their ingratitude
gave birth to murmurings and lack of praise.
A
challenge of necessity, then, is for us to assume an attitude of
gratitude. That alone will change our hearts that so easily fall into
ingratitude and pity parties!
Let
us strive to daily set our minds on what He has done for us and enjoy
days of praise!
