Describe the life you’ve always wanted in three simple nouns—no more.

Love, Power, and Excitement.

Wealth, Opportunity, and Fame.

Friends, Risk, and Excellence.

Now try three more—all rooted in a common gift: Grace, Gratitude, and Graciousness.

Grace is how we came to be—and saves us from what we have become. “God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.  He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins” (Eph 1:5-8).

And gratitude is an intelligent, mature response to all that that God has gifted us in Jesus. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God” (Col 3:16).

Graciousness is how we live as loved and honored people—with empathy and gentleness, forgiving as we’ve been forgiven. “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone” (Col 4:6).

Choose wisely when you pick your nouns. Your destiny depends on them.

And stay in grace.