The Neural Pathway to Gratitude
So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die. (Ecclesiastes 3:22 NLT)
What we do with our hands, within the context of a job, is what we will do more than anything in life. We’ll never spend more time with family or friends. We’ll always work more than we sleep. Some will even work more than they spend time in His presence. Let me remind you that being in His presence doesn’t just mean you are on your hands and knees praying with worship music on, nor does it just revolve around your attendance at a church service. Learning to walk in His presence outside of those two contexts is a task that seems daunting, but it is the most valuable skill we can develop as Christians. We cannot allow external factors to be the sole determinant on our intimate relationship with the King.
Start with a mental focus on Him. Some easy exercises for changing your focus starts with intentional time set aside each day. The morning works best for me, to just sit and listen for the Holy Spirit to speak, to read His Word, and to pray. He may not be audible, but during this time quiet your soul, think about the qualities of God and how they apply to your life, and ask God to use you.
Now you are ready to implement some actions that really propel your momentum. An easy action is to just say “thank you Jesus.” I don’t just mean once or twice, but in every literal situation let these words leave your mouth. It doesn’t have to be loud, but verbalizing gratitude eliminates negative emotions. Getting gas? Receive bad news? Going for a walk? Washing your hands? Doing paperwork? Going to Walmart? It may seem silly to take a menial task over the top, but if you want to be different you have to be different.
When you develop a new habit, you create new neural pathways in your brain. Imagine walking along a path of grass through the woods or in your yard. Overtime, that path will become more and more visible, and easier to navigate. It also predisposes you to a certain walking pattern since you know the path so well. This same process takes place in the brain. When you are used to gossiping, but you are wanting to lean more into God’s will for your life, it is difficult because you are predisposed to that tendency. By participating in that exercise above, you will develop a neural pathway to gratitude. Just so you know, it's virtually impossible to have a bad attitude when you are full of gratitude!
I pray that you can create neural pathways that are concrete in their foundation and lead you straight to the fruits of the Spirit. I’m praying for Him to clear your mind and your path!
