I have read this particular passage from Matthew many times and was stunned by the context in which it was written. The story of the Last Supper is familiar to all of us. We know that in the final moments before Jesus was crucified, he took bread, gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples. Many people read this portion of the Bible without understanding its context or meaning. Not only did Jesus choose to spend time eating and drinking with his disciples, he did so right before his death.
Jesus understood what was required of him. He knew that He would go to the cross and suffer great suffering for our sins. He could have done anything in the last moments of his life. He could have left on his own. He could have gone for a walk. He could have continued his ministry. He could have spent all that time just praying to the Father. Instead, he chose to rest, feed his disciples, take precious time to look up to his Father, and be thankful for all that he had done and was about to do.
It is sobering to think that Jesus chose to give thanks in the moment before he knew he was going to be crucified. It’s easy to be thankful when God provides. We rejoice when God provides us with abundant food, money, and other resources. We shout from the rooftops that God is good and tell everyone about His goodness. But when trials come after us and we are struggling with financial difficulties, health crises, marital difficulties, prodigal children, difficult work situations, etc., it is not so easy to be thankful for what God is doing. We may feel like God has abandoned us.
This Bible verse taught me that I should have an attitude of gratitude every day.
Here’s how you can feel grateful every day just by being grateful.
Please switch perspective
Jesus’ attitude toward his Father was one of gratitude, even though he knew that all of his disciples would abandon him and suffer severe physical and mental suffering. But He chose that moment before His crucifixion to give thanks. I’ve found that I find it easier to be grateful when I shift my perspective from despair and frustration to gratitude and optimism.
For example, when I don’t have enough money in my work situation, even though I’ve been praying for it for years, I have two choices. I can either be grateful for the money I have and the fact that we are still in good financial shape, or I can be dissatisfied with God and choose not to be grateful because He doesn’t give me what I want. The former is gratitude. The latter is an attitude of distrust and spiritual immaturity.
No matter how ungrateful I am to God, God’s will is His own. He can choose to bless me or not. The choice is his. I can’t manipulate him with my ingratitude, and my ingratitude will only make the situation worse. When I think about all the ways God has provided for me, I can look on the bright side of my situation. Or you can focus on what you don’t have and let it affect the way you view every aspect of your life.
count your blessings
I consider myself blessed when I complain too much or feel dissatisfied with my life and need to change my attitude. I write blessings in my diary. Some days blessings come quickly. In some cases, it can be more complex.
Sometimes my attitude is so bad that I don’t see anything that God has blessed me with. When I focus on all that God has done for me and thank Him for even the smallest things like the shoes on my feet or the clothes on my back, I find that I am more blessed than I ever thought possible.
It is important to remain fixed in your attitude towards the blessings in your life. Yes, I am materially blessed, but I am most blessed because I know my Savior. God doesn’t owe me anything, but I owe Him everything. One thing I owe him is to thank him for everything he has done in my life.
enjoy nature
Due to my demanding work schedule, I tend to ignore the world around me. We’re so focused on checking off our to-do list that we miss out on enjoying nature. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. Lately, I’ve learned to take pictures of fallen leaves, collect fallen leaves, do projects with them, paint pumpkins, and enjoy the crisp fall air and the bright colors of the trees. I’ve noticed that my posture improves when I do this. I stopped focusing solely on all the tasks I had to complete throughout the day.
I noticed the air, the wind in my hair, the cold air in my face. Take your time to feel the crunchy texture of the leaves and the moist feel of freshly fallen leaves. Life is not lived in a cubicle behind a computer screen. It was meant to be enjoyed with the beauty of God all around us. Consider taking a walk or spending time outside during lunchtime.
Even just 30 minutes of getting some fresh air and a chance to rest your eyes from your computer screen can change your attitude. As I watch squirrels carry food from one place to another or deer forage on the side of the road, I am reminded that I am just a small part of a larger picture. It reminds me that this is not my final destination. This is just a stop on the way to heaven.
One day I will be able to enjoy all the good that God has created. But you have to make time for this in your busy schedule. My attitude changes dramatically when I take time to do God’s work.
spend time with loved ones
Making family time with two adult children is even more complicated, but weekends are spent with loved ones.
Hectic work schedules can cause parents to miss important milestones in their children’s lives. Luckily, I was able to watch the kids while my husband went to work, and he watched the kids when I went to work. I never missed an important moment with them. When I look back on my life, even though the early years were difficult, I am grateful that I had the time to watch them grow. I was able to spend my time doing fun activities, watching school plays, and participating in all school programs.
At the end of my life, it doesn’t matter how big my bank account was or how luxurious my possessions were. What matters is the time I spent with the people I love, how much I loved them, and how much they loved me.
Incorporating gratitude into your daily routine isn’t easy. However, by changing your perspective and making time to enjoy what’s important, a person’s attitude can change from frustration and despair to gratitude. When we change our attitudes for the better, we strive to become most like Jesus.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/RunPhoto
Michelle S. Lazurek is an award-winning multi-genre author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother. She is a literary agent with Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spiritual Reset podcast. Her new children’s book, Hall of Faith, encourages children to understand that God can be trusted. When I’m not working, I enjoy drinking Starbucks lattes, collecting 80’s memorabilia, and spending time with my family and dog. For more information, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
