The Gratitude You Can’t Fake

Scripture:
“I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.” — Psalm 54:6 (NIV)

Reflection:
Gratitude can never be commanded into existence. When someone tells you, “You should be grateful,” you may feel guilt, shame, or resistance—but you don’t feel gratitude. True thanksgiving arises from freedom, not pressure. God never forces gratitude out of us. He invites us into it.

The beauty of gratitude is that it is a freewill offering. It is a gift we choose to offer back to God. When we stop shaming ourselves for not feeling grateful enough, we make room for genuine gratitude to grow. When we take the pressure off, the heart begins to soften. Gratitude doesn’t grow from obligation—it grows from love.

Prayer:
God, free me from the voice of “should.” Help me choose gratitude not out of guilt, but out of love for You. Give me a willing heart and a joyful spirit. Amen.

Practical Step:
Release one “should” today. Replace it with this phrase: “I get to be grateful, not I have to be.”

40 Days of Gratitude Reminder:Day 5
Take a moment today to choose one thing to thank God for—not because you should, but because you want to.

Song: So Will I – Hillsong