Is There A Difference Between Thankfulness And Gratitude?

1. More Optimistic

2. Less Materialistic

3. Less Self-Centered and more Humility

4. Grow in deeper trust and intimacy with God

In one study published in the journal 'Personality and Individual Differences,' researchers found that people who had consciously counted their blessings for just a week were more likely to trust others.

CONCLUSION

The Source of Nourishment for living in Emotional, Spiritual, and Physical Health

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV)

Gratitude is the foundation for building and growing trust in God. Trusting-Faith is the source of nourishment for living in health. It requires that a person "lean not on your own understanding." The word "lean" comes from a Hebrew word that is defined as to support oneself, as though they were leaning on something for assistance. The same word is used when Samson leaned on the giant pillars supporting the Philistine temple. It is the idea of putting one's weight on a crutch (See Judges 16:29).

God wants us to lean upon Him and not upon ourselves. We can't do it unless we are right next to Him. Leaning is a progressive state of mind. A person has to recommit their ways to Him continually. It must become the pattern of our life.

The word "understanding" refers to human understanding, intellect, knowledge, talents, logic, experience, reasoning, or perspective. We are commanded to STOP leaning on our "own understanding" because it is the opposite of trust. We can't "trust in the Lord" if we are leaning on our "own understanding." It is impossible!

The way to grow in Trusting-Faith is to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart." The root idea behind the Hebrew word for "trust" is to take refuge or have confidence. This word carries the idea of throwing oneself down, lying on the ground before another, casting all hopes for the present and the future to someone else, and finding shelter and security.

We must learn to practice continually laying down at the feet of Jesus and casting "all" our "cares upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). We must give Him all the concerns and cares of our heart (the inner self - the emotions and intellect) that frustrate us. This is not just saying we "trust in the Lord" or acting as though we do; instead, we are to be genuine in that "trust." We must do it with "ALL" our heart.

When a person trusts the Lord with all their heart, they relinquish ownership of those problems. They must still deal with them, but they won't be worried, stressed, or anxious over them because they now belong to Jesus. We must give them to Him because they are actually His problems now!