8 ways to practice gratitude daily.

Hello Brave Hearted Steppers, 

Today is all about gratitude and how we can practice it daily. Gratitude is the quality of feeling for being grateful or thankful. 

The benefits of having a life filled with gratitude:

1. Improves physical health by lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol, motivating you to exercise more and sleep better.
2. Improves emotional health by enhancing positive emotions, increasing self-esteem, reducing impatience, and improving decision-making.
3. Improves mental health by reducing stress, regulating emotions, and elevating your mindset. 
4. Improves spiritual health by drawing you closer to God, deepens your faith, and helps you live in the present.

8 practical ways you can practice gratitude daily

1. Gratitude Attitude: A gratitude attitude consists of making the conscious habit of expressing appreciation daily for big or small things and the ability to find good in every situation.     

         

2. Gratitude Bible Verses: Read / Memorize / Apply

1. 1 Chronicles 16:34 CSB: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever."
2. 1 Corinthians 15:57 AMP: "but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Psalms 9:1 GNTD: "I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the wonderful things you have done.
4. Colossians 3:17 AMP: "Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP: "in every situation [no matter what the circumstance], be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. AMP

3. Gratitude Challenge: A gratitude challenge (1 week, 2 weeks, 21 days, 30 days, etc.) filled with different gratitude activities. Its main goal is to introduce you to the Gratitude Attitude and create habit-forming ways of daily gratitude.

4. Gratitude Jar: A gratitude jar is a way to create a visual reminder of all the blessings in our lives. Whether it's a person, a random act of kindness, or a positive detail, write it down on paper and store it in the gratitude jar.

5. Gratitude Journal: A gratitude journal is a notebook, diary, or even an app to track what you are grateful for. Simply write down three things you are grateful for each day.    

                                   

6. Gratitude Praise and Worship: A gratitude of praise and worship is a gratitude that we can live in a posture of praise whether there is music or not. We develop a habit of praising and worshipping God as a purposeful act with all of our hearts.    

                                                           

7. Gratitude Prayer: A gratitude prayer is simply giving thanks to God with a humble heart. We can come before Him with FULL ACCESS to His throne (Hebrews 4:16) and express wholehearted gratitude for everything He has given us, everything He is for us, everything He continues to do for us, etc.                              

                                                                                     

8. Gratitude Quotes: Encouraging / Motivating / Positivity

1. "Each day brings new opportunities, allowing you to constantly live with love—be there for others—bring a little light into someone's day. Be grateful and live each day to the fullest.” Roy T. Bennett
2. “Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness, it’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” Amy Collette
3. "Great things happen to those who don't stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful." Roy T. Bennett
4. “Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart.” Roy T. Bennett
5. “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love—then make that day count!” Steve Maraboli

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank you for your mercy renewed this morning. Thank you, Lord, for every Brave Hearted Stepper and those who will join later on as they learn and grow each day towards the lifestyle you want them to live to the fullest. I pray that you will help them use practical ways to express gratitude daily. I pray that every Brave Hearted Stepper will start each day with a grateful heart toward the unconditional love you have for each and every one of us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The next blog post is scheduled for Friday, February 17, 2023, on Find rest in the presence of the Lord.

Many Blessings,

Maria Guzman