When I was a child I would recall my parents teaching me to say thank you when someone would do something nice for us.  Later in life I heard a preacher teach that a heart of gratitude determines our altitude.  How profound!  Our elevation in life is based not on our intentions but our expression of thanksgiving. 

So there is something about having gratitude and not only sensing it in your heart but also expressing it with your mouth and actions!  This is a forgotten thing in the lives of many believers.  They have come to expect God's blessing and take His work on their lives for granted.  When this happens our world becomes smaller in size,,, it shrinks to our world...to just our perspective and it becomes all about me!  God forbid!  As a result we become selfish and reluctant to live a life of service and of sacrifice leading to complacent christian living.

The apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:16, Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

The only way to preach, teach, encourage, sing and serve is with a heart of gratitude.  Any other way is dead works.  When we are grateful we are constantly reminding God how faithful He is and therefore establishing our lives as worship onto Him!

 So praise at all time for He inhabits the praises of His people.

God Bless!