119 - A Mind Renewed by Gratitude

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Romans 12:2

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Gratitude adds depth to thankfulness, as we are not only thankful for changing circumstances but, deeper still, grateful for an unchanging God and the life we possess in Christ, all we have and all we are through Him. In this depth of acknowledgment, our focus transforms. God’s constancy releases us from a mindset focused on the temporary, on what this world holds. Our minds shift as all we now see is in the light of the eternal nature we possess in Christ, the eternal that surpasses all of this world. We have been brought into something that will never shift, spoil, or fade. Our gratitude brings our spiritual reality to the forefront. It clears our minds from the superficial and transitory, moving us into a place of quiet renewal.

Our minds are stilled by the eternal nature of what we have in Christ for this present age and the age to come. In having all we need, we move from a mindset of lack and the pursuit of more to a place of contentment. In this contentment, gratitude flourishes. Our minds are set on what is truly important: that which is from above. The gauge we once used to assess our internal satisfaction refines. What we once thought brought us fulfillment pales in comparison to what is now ours in Christ. Our dreams and desires transform to accommodate our new perspective. How we see ourselves in this world and before the Father is renewed.

In this gratitude, we come to experience God’s great love for us, and the perception we have of ourselves transforms. We no longer see ourselves as unworthy of His love, our view before we came to know Christ, but as worthy, seen by Him in a whole new light. God’s love catalyzes our love and appreciation for Him. It is God who is the initiator, just as it says, “We love because He first loved us”. Our gratitude mirrors our understanding as we grasp the depth of His love.

In our gratitude, we begin to see all things new, as He sees all things new. It is no longer just the grand that catches our eye; the small and once seemingly insignificant become grand. A smile, a cool breeze, sunlight on our face, a quiet cup of coffee, the smallest of details all become quiet reflections for a heart pondering the magnificence of the life we now possess in Christ. In this quiet contemplation, the meditation of our hearts, our minds are renewed. In this renewal, our lives follow suit; we are changed and transformed. One step at a time, one moment at a time, our walk in the body through the power of the Holy Spirit aligns itself with who He has made us in Christ.

A mind renewed by gratitude is a lifelong journey. To see and not take for granted; to feel and to experience; to be mindful of all that is wondrous in this new life. To store up within the heart the riches God has bestowed upon us and to overflow to the world around us. This is our calling: from glory to glory, reflecting Christ as lights to a world in darkness.