Benefits of Gratitude: What the Bible and Science Say.

Fall~ that cozy time of year where it seems every store has a blessed, grateful, and thankful decoration on display, somehow it works in our hearts to actually kinda feel it. Our comfy sweaters and warm pumpkin lattes really bring it all home .... but really it is a way to live all the time! Years ago when I really struggled with fear I started practicing this, what a huge shift it made in my life!

I found that thanking God while crying through my trial lifted my burden. I found a strength to carry on that was not my own. I found peace in the middle of storms. I found a God who is present, available, listens, and cares.

Every morning, the first thing I do is thank God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit for blessing me with another day. For the cross and resurrection. For being with me every step of every moment of everyday. Being thankful is not only easy... it's free!

Before the hustle begins, before I check my phone or brush my teeth, I pause to give thanks. I throw my hands up in the air, look out my window, and say it outloud! Gratitude is my faith fuel!... it shifts my attitude, realigns my focus, and prepares my heart for victory today!

The Bible is packed with reminders to give thanks:

📖 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

But guess what? Science is catching up to what Scripture has always taught! Practicing gratitude doesn’t just make your soul feel lighter- it literally rewires your brain. Studies show that gratitude:

✨ Boosts happiness hormones like dopamine and serotonin
✨ Lowers the stress hormone cortisol
✨ Improves sleep, deepens social connections, and is even linked to longer life
✨ Strengthens your brain’s ability to experience joy, while helping regulate stress, anxiety, and depression

... and if you don't believe me?- just ask Google!

How cool is that? God designed our brains to flourish when we focus on the good.

📖 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds.” Philippians 4:6-7

So whether you're praising God for big victories or just the little joys ~ like hot coffee, sunshine, or breath in your lungs ~ you’re not only honoring Him, you’re also healing you. Gratitude is spiritual warfare and brain chemistry at work!

📖 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4

So let’s make it fun:
🎶 Sing it.
📝 Write it down.
💃 Dance it out in your kitchen.
🗣️ Speak it out loud!

Because every time we give thanks, we’re building a better day, a better mindset, and a stronger connection with the One who gave us everything. Turns out being thankful isn't just easy and free... it's also an amazing gift! Blessed to be thankful!