How does exercising gratitude to God with a grateful heart, in two key ways, increase your joy in life as well as strengthen your faith?

Most of us are familiar with the stirring open scene to the movie, “The Sound of Music.”

Remember it?

I’m talking about when the camera pans closer and closer over the mountains to where Julie Andrews broke out into song, melodically boasting about how the hills are alive with the sound of music.

This inspirational image and idea comes very close to what the Apostle Paul was urging us to do when he wrote these words in Colossians 3:16. Only he wasn’t talking about praising in song the beauty of a mountainside, but rather urging us to show great gratitude and praise to our magnificent God in a variety of ways.

It’s important to seriously consider Paul’s words here, otherwise we will almost certainly grow flabby and discontent in our faith. His command reminds us to set our minds on what matters—the message of the Messiah—taking it in personally, as well as releasing it out through encouraging words about our Savior to everyone around us.

We cannot simply read God’s word and/or pray and then go our merry way each day. God wants us to recognize that our gratitude to Him needs to be cultivated and strengthened.

“Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 (HCSB)

Read the full devotion at \https://devotableapp.com/daily-devotion-exercising-gratitude-with-a-grateful-heart