Principle 7: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly. -Colossians 3:16
While it is important to examine our inward selves, it is also important to turn our focus outward. This lesson is all about gratitude- the act of being thankful. Taking just a small moment each day to be thankful for our blessings can have a significant impact on our emotional and spiritual well-being.
Gratitude Toward God
The very breath in our lungs is only because of God. If you are reading this right now, there is something to thank Him for. Psalm 107:5 says to, “Give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and wonderful deeds for mankind.” In Philippians 4:6, Paul says,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Gratitude Toward Others
What special people has God placed in your life? Who has He provided to accompany and encourage you along your recovery journey? Take the time to thank God for them, and consider taking a moment to pray for them as they journey through their own struggles.
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ- the Message- have the run of the house. -Colossians 3:15-16
Gratitude Toward Your Recovery
Our recovery journeys often have many ups and downs. Even though the road may have been difficult, we can often find things to be thankful for. Think of and focus on those things, and thank God that you are not where you once were.
As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. -Hebrews 12:1
Gratitude Toward Your Church
Hopefully by now you have experienced the importance of being an active participant in a church. Church is not a building that you go to once or twice a week- church is God’s people living life together.
Many people have quit going to church because they have become hurt or disappointed in the people that go there. Remember that just like you, people make mistakes. We are all works in progress. If this is the case for you, I encourage you to try again and find a church with solid biblical teaching that practices the grace and love that Jesus modeled for us.
Being part of a body of believers provides a way for you to be able to bless others, as well as a way for others to bless you.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. -Hebrews 10:25
