WHY GRATITUDE IS AN ANTIDOTE

Gratitude, one of the natural positive emotional responses is considered as the best and most powerful emotional responses in humans. The reason gratitude is considered as the most powerful positive emotion having power over all other emotions is because a grateful heart contacts and connects to God directly. When a heart is thankful to God, the Holy Spirit in man fills and lifts the heart and soars up and ascends to the presence of God contacts and connect to God in whose presence is fullness of Joy and peace. Peace, streams of joy and happiness floods ones the heart and overflows to the other part of ones body soul and spirit. Apart from that contact with God establishes within us a flow of the same type of energy that created the whole world and is Sovereign over it. This energy flow is very strong and cannot be easily affected by situation, and storms of the earth and happenings in the physical world around us.

Being grateful changes ones negative emotional responses about a particular unpalatable situation positively. gratitude calms nerves, gives inner peace and joy.

Meeting all unpalatable situations, fears, pain, hurt or discouragement with gratitude works like a soothing balm. The less one responds to negative situations negatively by responding with gratitude the more peaceful one becomes. Gratitude to God in one's heart prevents anger from turning into rage; sadness into despair; envy into despise and hate.

Train your emotions to respond positively to situations with gratitude to God.

OVERCOME YOUR FEAR WITH GRATITUDE

Fear has two sides, the positive or healthy type and the negative or unhealthy type. The positive type is the natural feeling that is borne out of reverence for God and is called fear of God. Fear of God is good and in several places of the Bible, we are encouraged to have this type of fear. Fear of God keeps one in check from doing anything that will make one displease God and also keeps one from sin and all forms of evil (Prov.1:7; 8:13; 16:6). It brings riches, honor and abundant life (Prov. 22:4). Joseph exemplified great fear of God.

The second fear is a common emotional condition and inner feeling of apprehension, uneasiness, worry or dread one has when one thinks he/she is in danger or that something bad might happen or when one is afraid of a particular thing including people. Fear varies in degrees. It may manifest in a mild way as mere anxiety over something or total unreasonable dread or hatred (phobia) for something or to paranoia (unfounded fear or suspicion of other people). When it becomes a phobia or paranoia, it has increased to a high emotional degree which is dangerous and destructive.. At this abnormal or overwhelming state, more of cortisol and adrenaline hormones are secreted and released into the heart. The heart rates increases and beats very fast (palpitation). According to Gary R. Collings, Ph.D, a renowned Christian psychologist “In times of anxiety, the body appears to be on alert, ready to flee or fight. The heart beats faster, blood pressure and muscle tensions increase, neurological and chemical changes occur within and the person may feel faint, jumpy, and unable to relax or sleep. Fear is disabling, unpleasant and makes one timid. It robs us of our peace. It is a dark shadow that envelopes us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves. It makes one to lose courage, become cowardice, and makes one to involve in serious negative thoughts. Fear makes one to compromise one’s faith.

It magnifies a problem, hence, it makes a mountain out of a mole and makes one lose focus. Fear is like a magnet attracting the very things we fear as in the case of Job. It clouds our judgment and distorts our perspective. It cuts life short and it is the major cause of various kinds of emotional and anxiety disorders, panic attack, behavioral disorder, personal disorder and depressive disorder, mental break down when it is prolonged, intense and uncontrollable. The Scripture adds that, “The fear of man bringest, a snare...” and in 1 John 4:18 that, “fear hath torment.”

Interestingly, there is no other commandment God commanded several places of the Bible both in the old Testament and New Testament as "Fear not.” See Deuteronomy 20:3-4; Joshua 8:1; Prov. 3:25-26; Isaiah 41;10; 43:1;5; 54:49 and several others. One basic truth revealed why we become easily afraid of things, people and situations is lack of faith and trust in God most especially, “His Presence with us” which actually is the condition for us not to fear (Deuteronomy 20:3-4; Joshua 8:1; Prov. 3:25-26; Isaiah 41:10; 43:5).     

One sure way of overcoming fear as believers is confronting our fears with gratitude to God as King David revealed he did in Psalm 56:3-4.

Being in an attitude of gratitude and giving thanks to God most especially for His abiding presence and love, Sovereignty, power and promises to us helps one to remain calm, bold and courageous when one faces threats, dangers and in helpless situations. It boosts ones faith and trust in God.

To be continued…

GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.

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