Description
As Christians we should be the most grateful people alive. After all, doesn't the Bible encourage thankfulness and condemn grumbling? Peter Maiden traces the theme of thanksgiving in Scripture, and shows how we can genuinely live counter-cultural lives even in an age of rampant entitlement. With a pastoral heart, he explains how gratitude is the key to joyful, consistent Christian living, discipleship and mission involvement. He focuses on: · how we can develop the habit of thanksgiving · the benefits of gratitude · how we can be grateful, even in hard times Each chapter unpacks biblical truth and grounds it with practical application and personal illustrations. A series of short Bible study questions and reflections (mostly on the Psalms) conclude the chapters. Foreword by George Verwer Introduction: Thirty-six hours 1 'You owe me' 2 Blessed 3 A debtor 4 Ingratitude, but choosing gratitude 5 Disciplined gratitude, not grudging submission 6 Time out to remember 7 Gratitude, success and riches - the good, the bad and the ugly 8 Gratitude and sovereignty 9 Learning contentment 10 Gratitude as a weapon - fighting back with praise 11 Gratitude and lament 12 Radical gratitude in action As he was writing this book, poignantly and to his great shock, the author learned that he was suffering from incurable cancer. Far from derailing his message, this unwelcome news energised his efforts as he poured out his vision on the page with his now-limited resources. This is authenticity at its best. This book will be the author's last.