How would you complete the following statement?
The three attributes that high-virtue Christians share in common include:
God-centeredness, joyful living, and __________.
A. Love toward others
B. Gratitude
C. Prayerfulness
D. Spiritual maturity
The argument could be made that all of these attributes might be logical choices. But given the time of year, you can probably guess the answer–according to author/researcher Michael Zigarelli: gratitude [1].
We all know the value of gratitude. It’s been the topic of a number of posts here at From the Inside Out.
We’ve considered the research proving its benefits (A Taste of Heaven), we’ve affirmed that even in the midst of difficulty, we can find reasons to be grateful (Overflowing), and we’ve turned our thanksgiving into A Thanksgiving Prayer).
But Zigarelli introduces another outcome for our gratitude: character development. He maintains that God-centered, joyful, grateful Christians “are far more likely to reap maximum Christian character—to see manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives”[2].
I wondered, how might gratitude contribute to such impact? A bit of research turned up ten character traits manifested in grateful people. Some you’d expect; some may surprise.
To keep this post reasonable length, here are six of those traits:
Dr. Robert Emmons at the University of California, Davis, found that people who kept weekly gratitude journals reported up to twenty-five per cent higher happiness that those who didn’t. The change occurred quickly also. Within weeks participants felt happier [3].
To think about mistakes of the past, troubling situations in the present, and disturbing “what-ifs” for the future, only make us tense and anxious.
Gratitude to God, on the other hand, helps us focus on his gracious provision in the past, his dependable help for today’s challenges, and hope-filled promises for the future [4].
Everywhere we turn we see things others have but we don’t: a new car, a bigger and better house, an up-to-date wardrobe, a more fulfilling job, a close-knit family, and more. Our thoughts spiral downward into envy and craving—unless we change our trajectory with gratitude.
Gratitude focuses our attention on what we do have, what God has already provided.
Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.
— Melody Beattie
A study conducted in 1998 revealed that those who practiced gratitude experienced a 23% decrease in cortisol (related to stress) and a 100% increase in DHEA (a hormone related to resilience and emotional well-being) [5].
Gratitude can’t erase pain, of course, but it does help focus the mind toward what is true, good, and encouraging, to fortify our strength. And as we thank God for his sustaining presence, eternal faithfulness, absolute wisdom, and sovereignty over all, our resilience grows [6].
To sincerely thank God and other people is to acknowledge we are not self-sufficient on our own. They’ve provided something we needed, wanted, or will benefit from.
Such gratitude gives humility a chance to rise within us. “We are honoring the one who has given to us, and therefore are putting ourselves in a second position” [7].
Research conducted by David DeSteno and his team determined cause-and-effect between gratitude and self-control.
“In some experiments,” they reported, “we nudged participants to appraise [frustrating] situations in ways that gave them something to be thankful for. And in each case, greater self-control was the result” [8].
Why would that be? Writer Amy Tyson has observed: “Noticing good gifts remind us of God’s character. It feeds gratitude and exposes sin’s emptiness” [9].
It stands to reason the sin of indiscipline is not the only sin that gratitude might affect, but all sin. To be thankful for all that is right and good restrains us from clambering for what is ill-advised and harmful.
No wonder the Bible speaks of gratitude approximately 157 times, and thanksgiving approximately 72 times—depending on the translation.
Gratitude requires little effort, but the dividends are monumental.
[1] Cultivating Christian Character, 24, quoted by Peter Amsterdam at https://directors.tfionline.com/post/more-jesus-gratitude-part-1/.
[2] Cultivating Christian Character, 24.
[3] https://cct.biola.edu/gratitude-works/.
[4] Psalm 77:11-14; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 9:10.
[5] https://valleychristian.co/the-science-behind-gratitude/.
[6] Psalm 55:22; Psalm 100:5; Daniel 2:20; Psalm 103:19.
[7] Michael Kelley, https://thinke.org/blog/4-reasons-why-gratitude-i-good-for-your-soul.
[8] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-words/202003/resilience-and-the-practice-of-gratitude.
[9] https://harvestusa.org/the-power-of-gratitude-in-fighting-sin/.
Image credits: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.canva.com (7); http://www.snappygoat.com.
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