Pastors and church leaders give of themselves day in and day out. In fact, as turmoil and strife ripple across the globe and the needs of our immediate communities increase, leaders may feel that they are in a never-ending cycle of “doing” without any moment to rest.
In the midst of all this, one simple and godly way to regain a sense of ministry purpose is to develop a rhythm of gratitude.
Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, saying, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).
A regular practice of gratitude, from a physiological perspective, increases dopamine in our brains, and we tend to continually seek out more of the same. So the more we practice gratitude, the more we will find things to be grateful for.
In addition to the emotional and biological benefits, as Paul’s admonishment reminds us, it is God’s will that we live with a thankful spirit. God desires for us to choose gratitude over griping or even despair.
How can you regularly practice gratitude? Maybe it looks like writing down something you are grateful for at the start or end of each day. Maybe you choose to develop a habit of naming something you appreciate about someone whenever you speak with them. Perhaps you make a point to pause when you feel overwhelmed or frustrated to remind yourself of God’s specific goodness and provision for you.
Our prayer at CDF is that ministry leaders will walk in a spirit of thankfulness that will send them on a path toward healthiness. Pray with us:
“Dear Lord, thank you for inviting us to partner with you in what you are doing in the world. Thank you for blessing us abundantly. Thank you for your peace. We pray that our pastors and church leaders will continually seek ways to live in gratitude. May they walk in your blessings and be renewed by your presence.”
