Benefits of Gratitude in the Bible - Fighting the Good Fight

In this article, I will be discussing the Biblical benefits of gratitude. This study will be taken from the book, "Militant Thankfulness: An Essential Practice to Experiencing a Full Spiritual Life."  
 
Throughout this series, I will be presenting the immense blessings and benefits of thankfulness as presented by Scripture. And, by the end of this series, you and I will be able to identify some profound benefits of gratitude, as well as come to the conclusion that the intentional and ongoing practice of thanksgiving is an essential spiritual disciple for the Christian life.  

We will be starting with Ephesians 5:3-4 for an inspired look at the first benefit to the practice of thankfulness; we will discover that thankfulness is diametrically opposed to the flesh. Let's take a look…  
 
Ephesians 5:3-4 says, "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead…" 
 
This little verse is fascinating! I would have thought that this verse would conclude by listing the antithetical behaviors to the sinful ones listed. In other words (rather than sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk, and crude joking), I would have imagined that this would give the opposite behaviors of abstinence, purity, contentment, spiritual cleanliness, and wholesome speech. Or at least something along those lines… some behaviors that would directly combat the sinful, flesh-driven ones. But I would have been wrong! Take a look at this Passage with me, again.  

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"But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving!"

Whoah! What a cool little verse. This is saying that "thanksgiving" directly combats the inherent, sinful tug of the flesh. This means that our fallen nature, our inherent depravity, the human condition that regularly attempts to draw us away from God is thwarted by the practice of gratitude. It should become obvious from this Passage that the practice of thankfulness is a spiritual discipline. It is a means of grace by which we can partner with the Holy Spirit in placing our flesh in submission to the Lordship of Christ.

Wow... What a concept! How incredible to know that something as simple as the regular and intentional practice of gratitude will help the Believer combat the tug of the flesh and traverse the heights of the spiritual life.

Being diligent to practice a fiercely active thankfulness is one of the ways by which we can begin to live a full spiritual life. A Militant thankfulness is diametrically opposed to the flesh. It is a means by which we can begin to experience the full joys of the Christian life.
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For more on this topic, I recommend reading my other articles in this Militant Thankfulness series. Also, I would encourage you to consider buying Dusty's Book, "Militant Thankfulness: An Essential Practice to Experiencing a Full Spiritual Life."
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