Three Simple Things That Will Make You More Grateful
As a 31-year-old woman who grew up in the church, regularly volunteered, earned two ministry degrees, and became a pastor, it wasn’t until I sat alone on the beach, unemployed, that I began to understand gratitude as a lifestyle. It’s not just something we say or do; it informs every part of our living. By simply abiding in the love of Jesus and reading Scripture through a lens of wonder, gratitude became more than just giving thanks, but an embodiment of the gift of salvation through Christ seeping into every part of my life.
I want to share with you a little more about this verb wonder. It’s something we readily embrace as children but often gets neglected when we begin to take on the responsibilities of adulthood. But as children of God, no matter what age, opening the Bible and reading it through this lens reminds us that no matter what happens, it’s all going to be okay. Just as kids run to their parents when they are hurt and confused or proud and celebrating, what mom and dad do more than anything is offer this blessed assurance, “It’s all going to be okay.”
When I speak of wonder, there are two functions that come to mind: curiosity and awe.
- In curiosity, we ask questions. “I wonder what this means for my life?” or “I wonder why this is worth mentioning?”
- In awe, we marvel at God’s mercy, character, and magnitude. Here we say, “Behold the wonder of God!” or one of my favorite hymns, “When I survey the wondrous cross . . . “
Both functions of wonder connect our hearts to our minds, deepening our faith and inviting us to abide in Jesus. For me, it is one way I can live out Paul’s words, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV). Wonder allows me to hold a posture of gratitude in my life no matter what happens, a posture that is one of the simplest in some times and exceedingly challenging in others.
More Wonder, Curiosity, and Awe
I invite you to invite wonder into your faith. Read Scripture with curiosity, pray with awe; examine your life with curiosity, worship with awe. Simply ask yourself, “What about this [verse, life event, etc] leads me to wonder, in curiosity and in awe?” and journal your answers. It may not always be groundbreaking, life-changing, or overly significant. Sometimes it will be! But either way, it will begin to stretch your faith muscles toward gratitude for your life.
I describe the outcome of this wonder practice in my book The Way of Gratitude: 21 Devotions on Goodness, Gratitude, and Wonder:
The way of gratitude is a lifestyle which declares, “God is bigger than me and my life.” It reminds us of his greatness in all things, while simultaneously recognizing our own value in the world. It elicits worship and humility while also exuding pride for our own growth, perseverance, and choices. It is a posture which always points us back to God, saying ‘I’m proud of who God made me.’ It is being thankful for the breath in our lungs, the beating of our hearts, the thoughts in our minds, and the forgiveness of our sins. It is the inner knowing that in the end, everything is going to be okay. It is inviting the Holy Spirit to align our hearts with the goodness of God. It is the thought dwelling in the back of our minds that God can be trusted no matter what happens, and the action of choosing to trust him. It is not a feeling, it is a lifestyle focused on the one from whom all good things come. It is the reminder that even though God doesn’t cause our pain, he can heal it.
Hannah Rowen Fry
As you begin to incorporate wonder into your faith, I pray you rest in God’s goodness, ask curious questions, and sit in awe of your Creator. May this practice continually refocus your mind toward gratitude and grow your faith.
Meet Hannah Rowen Fry
Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer and speaker passionate about helping people live into their God-purpose. She shares practical tips, helpful resources, and clear purposeful steps to abide in Jesus daily without legalism, judgment, or guilt. Her thoughtful reflections on Scripture invite those who feel overwhelmed to slow down, choose simplicity, and experience greater joy in the present moment. Hannah lives in Florida with her husband Matt and spends most of her free time on the beach, at DisneyWorld, and listening to Taylor Swift. Read more about Hannah and her work at www.hannahrowenfry.com.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
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Creating Ripples
If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.
