GRATITUDE IS AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST TEMPTATION
“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.” (Ephesians 5:3-4 NLT).
It’s a reality that what controls our mind will control our actions. Thoughts determine our good or bad works.
What’s most effective is not to fight against your negative thoughts, but to replace them with thoughts of gratitude. For example, it’s a mistake to continuously think “I don’t want to drink alcohol, I’m not going to drink”, this makes the temptation become stronger in the brain.
The key is to replace those thoughts with something that makes us focus on something good and positive. One of those things is to have a grateful attitude with God. Remember how good he’s been, repeat the good things that have happened to us and give thanks to God.
“Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:17-20 NLT).
Thank you God for the opportunity to be healthy, to be able to work, and live in the United States, thank you for the privilege of being able to serve you and to be called a pastor, thank you for my spiritual family, thank you for my wife, thank you for my biological daughters, thank you, thank you.
“Bless the Lord, my soul
Think about it:
What type of thoughts predominate in your mind?
What negative thoughts do you need to replace with thoughts of gratitude towards God?
What do you have to thank God for on this day, last week, this year?
