A GRATEFUL HEART

 

A GRATEFUL HEART

 

 

How many times have you heard quoted, “GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART”?          

…even just, “BE GRATEFUL”?

 

Awhile back my wife began to get a real distinction about being GRATEFUL or just THANKFUL. This changed her whole perception about God, our house, her job… me (hahahaha)… and life in general.

 

Then about a month ago a friend asked if I had any studies on “GRATEFUL”.

NOPE.

 

It really got me thinking again… am I feeling GRATEFUL? Or THANKFUL?

Can you feel both at the same time?

What’s the difference?

…More importantly… does it matter?

 

I tried looking up “GRATEFUL” in scripture, only to find that it is only used in some of the more modern versions of the Bible… and that there is no record of the English word “GRATEFUL” until the 1550s…

 

 

“GRATEFUL” and “THANKFUL” often get used interchangeably.

For instance… Colossians 3:16

·       The BSB states: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with GRATITUDE in your hearts to God.”

 

·       While the NASB end the verse with the phrase: “…with THANKFULNESS in your hearts to God.”

 

·       And the NKJV ends it: “with GRACE in your hearts to the Lord”

 

The Greek word used in this verse is, “charis”: grace, favor; graciousness (as gratifying), thankfulness; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; (INCLUDING GRATITUDE) -- Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

 

The Old Testament Hebrew carries the same meaning in similar passages:

·       Ps103:1-5AMPC “Bless (affectionately, GRATEFULLY praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!

 

·       Ps44:8CEV “We boast about you, our God, and we are always GRATEFUL”.

 

The Hebrew word translated “GRATEFUL” is “yadah” – to revere or worship (with extended hands) [Strong’s]… literally meaning, “to throw the hands”, almost as an involuntary response.

 

Being THANKFUL is usually by degree or measure determined by the emotional response to an action done to or for you.

 

Being “GRATEFUL”, however, is not an emotion. It is a state of being… a way of perceiving the world because of what has been done in your heart.

 

I can be THANKFUL without being GRATEFUL…

…but if I am GRATEFUL, my HEART will always be filled with THANKSGIVING.

 

The words “charis” and “yadah” hold deeper meaning than just to be THANKFUL for the favor or blessings due to God’s grace. 

It demonstrates a relationship… and the involuntary response of deep GRATITUDE about who our Heavenly Father is…

and consequently, toward life itself…

out of…

…A GRATEFUL HEART.