Give Gratitude

Bible Study

hoda\'ah (הוֹדָאָה)

Psalm 118:24, Ephesians 5:20

The Hebrew word for gratitude in the Old Testament is hoda\'ah (הוֹדָאָה), and we are reminded to be grateful or give thanks in some form 102 times. The same thought in the New Testament Greek is used 57 times.

God knows the importance of being grateful.

God knows the thought of being grateful changes the human brain…because God wired it that way.

Modern psychologists have found that when we are grateful the brain chemicals of serotonin and dopamine are generated in our brain.

So…realistically even when we are not grateful if we tell ourselves 10 or 20 times we are grateful our brain will get the message and we will become grateful.

I have to admit when I read that information years ago I was shocked that more school teachers don’t make writing the word GRATEFUL 100 times as a reminder we need to be more grateful.

I realize teachers probably no,longer use that form of punishment, but it was very common years and years ago.

I happen to think ‘I Will Be Grateful’ would be a good exercise for children at any age or language.

In Ephesians 5:20 Paul wrote, “Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”