Ready:
"Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Set:
There are no shortages of opportunities to worry and complain, including as an athlete or coach. Demanding schedules, difficult teammates, lack of resources, poor officiating, the weather… We can express a negative perspective on these and many other things. However, the more we instead practice gratitude, the greater our progress spiritually.
The second part of Philippians 4:6-7 gives an amazing promise: the experience of the peace of God, guarding our hearts and minds! This promise is ours as we’re “in Christ Jesus,” united to Him through putting our faith fully in Him. This promise is realized as we exercise our trust in God through prayer—and as we do so “with thanksgiving.”
That brief phrase (“with thanksgiving”) has enormous implications. When we not only recognize our dependence upon God at all times but also practice finding reasons to be thankful to Him in every situation, the results are significant. When we choose gratitude rather than worrying or complaining, we experience the peace God desires for us no matter our circumstances.
Consistent gratitude to the Lord deepens our relationship with Him. In giving thanks to Him throughout the day, we realize how loving, good and generous this God who is present with us is. We look to Him and draw nearer to Him because we know the Lord is the source of all blessings. And it’s in being closer to the Lord that we experience His peace.
When you’re tempted to worry, bring this to the Lord and give thanks that He is present and in control. When you want to complain, make a list of things you can thank God for instead. When it would be easy to be negative, look for reasons for expressing appreciation to God for His work. The practice of gratitude brings spiritual progress and leads you to experience God’s peace.
Go:
In what situations are you tempted to worry or complain rather than giving thanks to God?
What is one next step you can take to grow in the practice of gratitude?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, I confess that I tend to worry and complain in certain situations. I pray that I would instead recognize Your generous love and goodness. I want my heart to be filled with gratitude to You, and I want to grow in consistently giving thanks to You. Amen.”