63. God's Will For Your Life is a Heart of Gratitude

In this episode of Curious for Christ, we explore one of the most powerful principles of the Christian faith: gratitude. But what does it really mean to live a life of gratitude, and why is it God’s will for us?

Join me as we dive into:
• What gratitude means in all circumstances and how it aligns with God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
• The dangers of bitterness and how it can jeopardize our relationship with God (Hebrews 12:15)
• Practical ways to embrace gratitude even when life feels challenging
• How gratitude shifts our perspective and helps us experience peace and joy in Christ
• The importance of surrendering hurts and choosing gratitude as a pathway to healing

Whether you’re new to Christ, seeking deeper faith, or looking to grow spiritually, this episode will inspire you to cultivate a heart of gratitude that transforms your life.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
• Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 12:15, Psalm 139:23-24
• Spiritual Growth Coaching Program: If you’re seeking to deepen your relationship with Christ, I’d love to support you. Start now and get personalized coaching to grow in your faith. To take the next step, click on the link to schedule your session or email me directly at hello@alexandraalvarezcoaching.com with the subject: "Black Friday Coaching Deal." Get 10 coaching sessions for the price of 8! You can start your coaching anytime in the new year!

Stay Connected:
• Join the Curious for Christ Facebook group to engage with the community and continue the conversation.
• Join My Newsletter for weekly encouragement from me!

Thank you for listening, and remember, God’s will for your life is a heart of gratitude!

Thanks for listening! Your support means the world. Join our Curious for Christ Facebook Group and become an Insider for weekly inspiration and encouragement.

Transcript

0:00

Welcome to curious for Christ the podcast where we explore face the meaning of life and the beauty of a curious heart that seeks God. I'm your host, Alexandra and today's episode is titled God's will for your life is a heart of gratitude. Did you know that gratitude? Isn't just a nice idea. It's part of God's will for your life. In first Thessalonians five verse 18, Paul writes. Give, thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ. Jesus. But how do we embrace gratitude when bitterness feels so much easier? That's what we're unpacking today. Welcome to curious for Christ. Do you ever find yourself lying awake at night? Wondering about God's plan for your life. Maybe you wake up with big dreams, but feel unsure where to start or what your next step should be. If you're curious about exploring your faith and finding purpose, then you've come to the right place. Hi, I'm Monica, Sandra. I too felt lost unsure of the direction my life was taking. I yearned to understand my purpose and have someone guide me. But I kept telling myself I was too busy, the timing wasn't right. And my lack of clarity prevented me from being consistent until I found Christ. He brought peace into my life and we field the way to find purpose by anchoring myself. In him. In this podcast, we'll journey together, exploring the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of him. and cultivate your own personal relationship with Christ. So open up your Bible, put in those ear buds and listen up because God is speaking to you. He is making everything new and you don't want to miss it. Let's get started. Before we dive into today's episode. I have an exciting updates about the podcast for the month of December starting next week, I'll be releasing one episode only every Friday. This will allow me and you to be more present with our families and loved ones while still staying connected here. During this time, I revisit some of our most listened to episode and may answer some of your questions. I'm looking forward to keeping this season focused on what truly matters, our faith and relationships with others. And if you're a new to Christ seeking to deepen your faith or looking to grow spiritually, I'd love to invite you to join my spiritual growth coaching program. It's designed for those exploring what it means to follow Christ as well as for those who want to uncover what may be missing and strengthen their relationship with him. Together. We'll dive into God's word. Build a stronger connection with Christ and navigate your spiritual journey. So you can experience the peace and confidence in your life that only God can give. If you're ready to take the next step in your faith, I'd be honored to support you. During this season of growth, you can find more details in the show notes or reach out to me directly. So back to the episode God's will for your life is a heart of gratitude. Let's be honest. Life throws curve balls, relationships get messy. Plans fall apart. And sometimes we find ourselves carrying a weight. We weren't meant to be. It's in these moments that we face a choice, gratitude. Or bitterness and bitterness can feel justified, maybe somewhat hurt you deeply. Or life didn't turn out the way you hoped. It's easy to focus on. What's wrong. What's missing. I know I'm guilty of that. I like to fix things I like to grow and like to learn. But bitterness is like a root, it grows deep. It wraps itself around our hearts and then it chokes out the joy that God intended for us. If we're not careful. Hebrews 12 verse 15, warns us. It says see to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Bitterness doesn't just harm us. It can actually cost us our relationship with God. So, is it worth holding onto. Instead, we need to uproot the hurt and bring it to God just as David did, when he prayed in Psalms 1 39 verses 23 and 24. He said, search me God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Gratitude shifts our perspective. It doesn't ignore pain, but invites God into it. It's saying, Lord, I trust you. I don't see the full picture, but I know you're good. In other words, gratitude is about being honest with our struggles. While trusting in the unchanging character of God, his goodness, his love, his care for us. And you might wonder, and I know I have. Why does God allow pain? Well. You know, pain has a way of revealing what's inside our hearts, it uproots what doesn't belong and has the potential to draw us closer to God. So instead of resisting pain, See it as an opportunity to grow in faith, it may be uncomfortable. But the result is like coming home after being away for far too long, returning to the safety and the comfort of God's presence. It's worth us taking some time. To really go deep there. So how can we move from bitterness to gratitude? Here are three steps. Number one, pause and reflect. I know. This is a busy season, the busiest of the year. I know, but if you don't take the time to pause, you'll be swept away by the demands and circumstances of life. Without stillness. You may miss out on the peace that only comes from God. So take a moment to ask yourself what is one thing I can thank God for today. Start small. It could be a sunrise, a kind word, or even the strength to keep going. I woke up this morning. Just one thing. Number two surrender the hurt. Pray and ask God to help you release bitterness. This includes forgiving others and sometimes even forgiving God. Well, God, doesn't wrong. As we might hold on to feelings of disappointment when life doesn't go, as we think it should. And so we need to be honest with that. God knows that already. So let's not hide behind the feelings that we truly have and then release what you think you should have and trust God. To bring healing. And number three. Practice gratitude daily, write it down. Speak it out or shared with someone gratitude grows. When we nurture it. So Fred, let me leave you with this gratitude is the antidote of bitterness. When we choose gratitude, we step into the full abundant life that Jesus promised. We open our hearts to peace, to joy and hope. No matter what life throws our way. So that's it Thank you for joining me on curious for Christ today. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. So what are you grateful for this week? Drop me a message or connect with me on a Facebook group. B I T dot L Y four slash curious for Christ community. Let's keep seeking Christ together with hearts full of gratitude until next time, stay curious, stay faithful and stay grateful. If today's episode inspired you and you're ready to take the next step in your faith. I encourage you to not delay and get some coaching with me. It's for anyone looking to grow in their relationship with Christ, and I'd love to walk this journey with you. Plus for a limited time, I'm offering a special black Friday deal. Get 10 coaching sessions for the price of eight by purchasing. Now you can start your coaching sessions at any time. In the new year to claim your spot. Just email me at hello at Alexandra Alvarez, coaching.com with the subject black Friday coaching offer. I can't wait to work with you. So book now, and you have until next Friday, December six. To get the black Friday deal. Have a great week. Hi, I hope you enjoyed today's episode. If so, would you like to take 30 seconds and share it with a friend who may also struggle with knowing God and His purpose for their life. Also, leave a review on applepodcast. com. Podcast, and let me know what topics you'd like to hear about in the future. Your voice matters. I'll meet you back next Friday for another episode.