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3 Gratitude Time Zones

November 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I’ve been keeping a gratitude journal since March.

 

At first, I was barely able to think of one or two things to write down each day.

 

After a few months, however, I noticed that I was easily jotting down four or five things, sometimes more.

 

I figured I must be going through a “good phase.” Life must have gotten easier, giving me more to be grateful for.

 

But when I thought about it, I realized I’d gotten the cause-and-effect completely wrong. My life wasn’t any easier; if anything, my circumstances were more challenging.

 

The daily practice of gratitude makes life easier.

 

This trend continued as I challenged myself to write down 10, 15, and now 20+ things per day for which I am grateful. The more I focus on gratitude, the better I feel about my life, despite difficulties.

 

As I brainstorm things for which I’m grateful, the three core concepts of 1 Corinthians 13:13 help me focus on blessings in three different “time zones”:

 

Faith

 

When I focus on how God has led me in the past, I remember so many specific incidents for which I continue to be grateful.

 

Hope

 

When I exchange my expectations for how I think things should turn out for hope in God’s plans for my future, I am grateful that He is God and I am not.

 

Love

 

When I focus on the present moment, I find so many ways God is blessing me in the here-and-now.

 

Try This:

 

Every day for the next 30 days, jot down one thing for which you’re grateful in each of the three gratitude time zones: past, future, and present.

 

By early December, you’ll have a list of 100 blessings to remind you of God’s faithfulness!

 

 

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