Reflection
I’ll never forget that November, barely three months sober and hanging on by a thread. I couldn’t work; debt was suffocating me, and I saw no light at the end of the tunnel my addiction had created.
That month, the topic in AA was gratitude. Everywhere I turned, people were talking about it.
I thought it was nonsense. I’d blown up my life. What could I possibly be grateful for?
But slowly, it sank in.
Gratitude didn’t change my circumstances. It changed me.
It quieted the chaos, calmed my spirit, and kept me off the pity pot.
Gratitude isn’t denying reality. It’s redirecting our focus from what we lack to what God has provided.
During my recent 67-mile bike ride, I practiced a discipline I developed years ago. Whenever negative thoughts crept in, I intentionally shifted my focus to something I was grateful for. I’ve learned that gratitude is a powerful weapon against the enemy. Nothing frustrates him more than my grateful heart answering the negativity he throws my way. And I must admit, I enjoy turning his attacks into opportunities to praise God.
Try it. It’s hard to be fearful, angry, or resentful while genuinely giving thanks.
Gratitude shifts our perspective from scarcity to abundance, worry to worship, and striving to surrender.
It’s not just a feeling. It’s a discipline that opens the door to joy and peace.
For the next 29 days, EagleLaunch Inspiration will focus on gratitude. My prayer is that it lifts your spirit as it lifted mine nearly 40 years ago.
Soul Search:
- What if today you thanked God before asking Him for anything?
- What already-present blessing have you overlooked?
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
