How Gratitude Guards Your Heart From the Quiet Danger of Entitlement

Gratitude is sort of a shield that guards our hearts against the sneaky poison of entitlement that may so easily creep in if we’re not careful. The moment we start specializing in what we expect we deserve, we lose sight of the overwhelming grace and blessings that God has already lavished on us. Entitlement whispers that we’re owed something only for showing up—that life should hand us our wants on a silver platter. But after we dive into Scripture, we discover a totally different story: the whole lot we’ve got is a present from God. The only thing we’re truly entitled to is His grace.

Take a take a look at Luke 17:10, where Jesus tells us, “So you furthermore mght, when you have got done the whole lot you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we’ve got only done our duty.'” This verse ought to be a reality check for us! Even on our greatest day, we won’t earn God’s favor by what we do. Everything we’ve got—our salvation, our every day bread, every breath we take—is a present we didn’t earn and do not deserve.

Gratitude is the antidote to entitlement. When we intentionally cultivate a thankful heart, it’s like spraying weed killer on those seeds of entitlement before they will take root. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we expect we’re missing to what we have already been given. It changes our perspective from “I deserve this” to “Wow, God, thank You for this!” A heart filled with gratitude is a humble heart, fully aware that every one we’ve got is due to God’s amazing grace, not because we’ve one way or the other earned it.

And here’s the thing—gratitude is contagious. Just like entitlement can spread and drag others down, a thankful heart can lift others up and encourage them. When we elect to specific our gratitude—whether through prayer, a sort word, or a straightforward act of thanks—we create an environment where others are encouraged to do the identical.

So, what does this seem like in our on a regular basis lives? It’s about frequently taking time to thank God for the blessings He’s given us, each big and small. It’s about showing appreciation to the people around us, recognizing their efforts and goodness in them. It’s about selecting to concentrate on the positives, even when life gets tough, because we trust that God is working the whole lot out for our good.

Gratitude keeps us grounded in the fact of God’s goodness, protecting us from the damaging mindset of entitlement. As we make thankfulness a habit, we align our hearts with God’s will and keep ourselves open to the infinite blessings He desires to pour into our lives. So today, let’s select gratitude and let it transform the best way we expect, speak, and act.

Originally published by Whitefish Living. Used with permission
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Sven Huls

Levi Lusko is the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, positioned in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and in every single place online. He is a best-selling writer, podcast host, husband, and father of 5, and travels the world speaking about Jesus. Levi is the writer of several books, kid’s books, and devotionals, including Through the Eyes of a Lion, I Declare War, The Marriage Devotional, The Last Supper on the Moon, and his latest, Blessed are the Spiraling. He and his wife, Jennie, co-host their podcast, Hey! It’s The Luskos. Levi and Jennie have one son, Lennox, and 4 daughters: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who’s in heaven.
Learn More and Stay Connected: https://levilusko.com/christianity