Gratitude doesn’t just restore you… it re-stories you.

As we move from Thanksgiving into Advent, we all long for the same four things: peace, hope, joy, and love. But how do we actually cultivate them in real life—not just as ideas on a Christmas card?

In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason and Justin unpack the surprising key the Bible and neuroscience both point to: gratitude.

Not the vague feeling… the practiced habit.

We explore:

Why gratitude is “ground zero” of the Christian life

How giving thanks literally rewires your brain

Why your mind runs better on joy than on anger, anxiety, or frustration

The difference between restoring you and re-storying you

Why Scripture commands gratitude in all circumstances

Two practical gratitude habits that can change your life

How thanksgiving prepares your heart for Advent

You’ll also learn simple, repeatable practices like verbalizing thanks daily and building Appreciation Memories—habits that reset your emotional state, strengthen your identity in Christ, and help you live with more calm, hope, and joy.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or spiritually numb, this might be the episode that opens the “front door” again to a warm, grounded life with God.

Listen now to learn how gratitude unlocks the life God designed you for.

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