Grace Wins - Daily Gratitude Practice

The Gift That Changes Everything

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I have always enjoyed receiving an unexpected gift. The anticipation as you unwrap it, wondering what's inside and what prompted the giver to choose it specifically for you. There's a special joy in that moment—not just in getting something new, but in knowing someone thought of you. How often, though, do we open the gift, use it for a while, and then forget about it? In our spiritual lives, God's grace works much the same way—it flows freely to us, but requires our grateful acknowledgment to continue its work in our hearts.

Understanding Grace Through Daily Gratitude Practice

Thomas à Kempis wisely observed: "Man does evil in not returning everything gratefully to God. Thus, the gifts of Grace cannot flow in us when we are ungrateful to the Giver, when we do not return to them to the Fountainhead. Grace is always given to him who is duly grateful, and what is wont to be given the humble will be taken away from the proud."

À Kempis's insight cuts through spiritual complexity to reveal a simple truth: God's grace flows most freely to grateful hearts. His loving, divine energy—freely given to help people grow closer to Him through faith and sacrament—responds to gratitude like water responds to an open channel. A daily gratitude practice isn't just good manners; it's the spiritual pipeline through which God's blessings continue to flow.

Ingratitude blocks this flow just as a clogged pipe stops water from reaching its destination. A heart filled with entitlement, pride, or forgetfulness cannot fully receive God's ongoing grace. Jesus illustrated this principle in the parable of the talents—those who faithfully acknowledged and used what they were given received more, while the one who didn't properly value his gift eventually lost it (Matthew 25:14-30).

James reminds us that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights" (James 1:17). When we recognize the true source of all blessings, we naturally direct our thanks to the Giver rather than taking credit ourselves or simply enjoying the gifts without acknowledgment.

Paul posed challenging questions to the Corinthians: "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. You have reigned as kings…" (1 Corinthians 4:7, 8a). This recognition keeps pride at bay and maintains an open channel for grace to continue flowing into our lives.

Building Your Daily Gratitude Practice

Take five minutes to write down three specific gifts of grace in your life that you may have overlooked or taken for granted. Offer a specific prayer of thanks to God for each one. Then, choose one way to actively "return to the Fountainhead" by using one of those gifts to bless someone else this week.

As you practice this simple rhythm, watch how the channel of grace widens in your life, bringing even more of God's goodness than before. The daily practice of gratitude becomes a spiritual discipline that transforms both our perspective and our experience of divine grace.

Always improve the present moment.