Perhaps we’re conditioned to focus on what we don’t have, which often causes us to miss what we do. Of course, we don’t want to grow complacent or otherwise distracted – missing the more God has for us. But we keep our hearts grounded in him in part by practicing gratitude along the way.
On the one hand, we realize there’s still much ground to cover to make the vision God has given us a reality. And part of what drives us is the deep desire to close the gap between where we are today and where we still want to be. Our eyes are locked on the horizon with an unwavering commitment. And generally this is a good thing. But it can also blind us from seeing what we have and what we’ve already accomplished.
When our eyes are always focused on what’s next it can leave us feeling like we’re constantly behind where we need to be. And it’s hard to be grateful from this position of lack.
The point here is not to give up our drive or to merely pretend to be content. Our passionate and relentless desires are how we continually bring more life and goodness into the world. But this zeal should not stop us from taking regular moments to pause and be grateful for what God has already given us.
To be sure, this would include providing for our basic needs and trusted others to walk with us. But often practicing gratitude allows us to see just how far we’ve come in our calling as well. It gives us a chance to slow down and be thankful for the ground we’ve already covered.
In the end, keep pressing forward to accomplish all that God has called you to do. And remember to practice much gratitude along the way – keeping your eyes open to what God has already done.
Photo by Jackson David on Unsplash
