The Power of a Grateful Heart

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  Image by Freepik Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Reflection: Gratitude is a powerful attitude that can transform our lives. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul encourages us to "give thanks in all circumstances." This doesn't mean we are thankful for every situation, especially the difficult ones, but it means finding reasons to be grateful even amidst our trials. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have. It helps us see God's hand in our lives and recognize His blessings, no matter how small. When we cultivate a grateful heart, we start to notice the everyday miracles and the ways God provides for us. Consider the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16. While imprisoned, they chose to pray and sing hymns to God. Despite their dire circumstances, they found reasons to be grateful and praise God. Their gratitude not only sustained them but also led to a mira...

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Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
—1 John 3:2

There is some confusion among Christians as to what our bodies will be like in heaven. Two-thirds of Americans who believe in the resurrection of the dead also believe they will not have bodies after the resurrection. But that is not the case. We will have real bodies.
The resurrection of Jesus assures me that I will receive a new body just like His. The apostle John wrote, "Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is" (1 John 3:2).

So when Jesus rose again from the dead, was He in a real body? Yes, it was a real body. Remember, He appeared to Thomas and essentially said, "Hey, you see the wounds. Touch them" (see John 20:27). Jesus ate a piece of fish as well. That is very much a physical action.

Granted, Jesus could do some cool stuff, like appear in a room without using a door. And He also could ascend to heaven. "Well, how did He pull that off?" you might ask. I don't know. But our bodies will be like His in the resurrected state.

Job said, "And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!" (Job 19:26).

When you get to heaven, you still will be you, but you will be the upgraded version of you. You are going to be you, perfected—not flawed. My personality and your personality still will be intact, without the sinful tendencies. And then, when we come back to earth in our new bodies, we will rule and reign with Christ. This is all because of the resurrection of Jesus.

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