Feasting on Gratitude

By CarolMarie Smith – 

Let me share a secret with you…

A simple, grateful heart is a strategy for the season into which we are moving. It will release joy in the midst of a problem; it will keep our hearts free from disappointment and help us not be critical. It can bring health to our bodies and protect us from the attacks of the enemy. Isn’t it amazing? We can accomplish all of this simply by having a grateful heart!

In the bible, there are 124 scriptures about being thankful and 339 that deal with praise. Do you think God is trying to tell us something? No matter what happens in our lives, we can choose to be thankful. The one who created us, loves us and knows what’s best for us has given us this directive.     

In the New York Times best seller The Hidden Messages in Water, by Masaru Emoto, 10 years of testing proved a difference in water when negative words were spoken over it versus positive words. Condemning words brought disease and pollution. Words of praise and affirmation brought life and kept the water pure.    

Our bodies are 70 percent water. The words we speak do make a difference in the quality of life we have and in the quality of life enjoyed by those around us.    

In Deuteronomy 30, God tells us that He has set before us blessings and curses, life and death. He tells us to choose life!         

Deuteronomy 28 spells out the blessings and the curses. In verses 45 and 47, God shows us what opens us up to curses, including every kind of sickness. The reference explains that the curses are opened up to us “…because you did not serve the lord with joyfulness of heart in gratitude for the abundance of all with which He has blessed you.”    

Jesus has taken the curse for us (Galatians 3:13), but we need to obey the Word of God to receive the benefits of it!    

In a recent by Dr. Carl Peterson, a brain specialist at Oral Robert University, present research that shows that when we pray in tongues, two chemicals are released from our brain that build our immune system 35 – 40 percent. As we praise God in tongues not only do we build ourselves up to equip us for our day, but our bodies are literally strengthened and fortified (1Corinthians 14:4).

Proverbs 15:15 (Amplified Bible) says, “All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil by anxious thoughts and foreboding, but he [she] who has a glad heart, has a continual feast regardless of circumstances”.     

Grumble or be glad? Affliction or continual feast? It’s our choice!    

If I am tempted to complain, I have found that praying in the spirit keeps me from falling into the trap. James 3 speaks of the waters from our life that flow through our words. It goes on to say that bitter water and sweet water should not come from the same spring. I find that as I spend time with the Lord in the mornings, worshiping Him and praying in tongues, it gets the bitter out of my spring so that the waters are sweet for the rest of the day. And I can start tasting of my banquet. The more pressure of the day, the more time in tongues I need!               

Romans 8:26-28 tells us that when we pray in tongues, we pray the answer into being. I like that! If you have not experienced this gift yet, begin to read scriptures on it and ask Jesus for it. You’ll be glad you did.    

Let’s also keep each other in check. As widows, we usually prefer not eating alone. How about sharing a spiritual feast with another widow by having a glad heart? It will bring blessings on both of you as we use our special strategy.  On second thought, let’s not keep this strategy a secret.

CarolMarie is the founder of He’s My Husband International, a ministry based out of Knoxville, TN. She also serves with several global ministries that have outreaches to orphans and widows, including Widows International, Matthew 10 International, and Abiding Glory.