A Grateful Heart

It is best to have a grateful heart - not one of entitlement, but of humility and servitude.

A grateful heart recognizes that every blessing, opportunity, and even challenge is a gift from God - each one shaping our character and preparing us for what’s ahead.

Imagine receiving a raise and, instead of expressing gratitude, lifting your nose and smirking at the numbers before you. A raise, as we know, comes through effort - through showing up, being consistent, and putting in the work. It’s something to be earned, not demanded.

I recently heard a story of someone who received a raise but responded with disgust instead of gratitude. Rather than saying thank you,they turned their nose up at the gesture. They still accepted it, but with an ungrateful heart — believing they deserved more.

But this person must not know that “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” - John 3:27

But here's the thing, even when things don’t turn out as we expect, we can still choose gratitude. Sometimes, what feels small is simply just the start of something greater. It’s an opportunity for character growth - to build upon what we already have and keep pressing forward with diligence.

Everyone’s journey looks different. Some make success look effortless, but behind their progress was time, patience, and devotion that we never witnessed.

What if we turned our nose up at what God has done for us? That kind of disrespect is immense. Did you know that kind of pride distances us from His presence. Entitlement focuses on what we think we deserve, while gratitude focuses on what we’ve received.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” - Luke 16:10

If we can’t be trusted with little, how can God trust us with much?

Let’s put in the work and run our own race - not looking to the left nor to the right of someone else's success. When we're faithful, disciplined, and diligent with what we already have - our time, our resources, our opportunities. In doing so, we show God that we’re ready for more.

It’s not just about receiving more, but becoming more.
Growing in character, integrity, and work ethic so that what’s entrusted to us multiplies for good.