The ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. —2 Corinthians 9:12
When we give out of gratitude to God, we cause gratitude to well up in others’ hearts too. As a result, gratitude begets even more gratitude. As recipients of grace, we’ve now become channels of the grace we’ve received so others may become the beneficiaries of His grace as well. The result is that even more gratitude springs up.
What’s come down to us vertically has evoked heartfelt gratitude back to God. And out of His fullness, we’ve been inspired and enabled to shower gifts of grace horizontally in all directions, which in turn motivates even more thanksgiving to return vertically to God from other sources.
It’s kind of like the rain cycle. Much the same way as water comes down from the sky, replenishing the earth then returning to the air in evaporated moisture, Christian gratitude keeps God’s grace churning full circle . . . and leaving who knows how many fruits, flowers, and refreshed lives in its trail of glory.
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Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy ©2009 Revived Hearts Foundation
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
How have you seen this cycle of gratitude play out in your life or in the lives of others?