WHY GRATITUDE IS A SPIRITUAL DIAGNOSTIC

(Post by: Lilly Hobbs)

If someone examined the things you regularly thank God for, who would they think you’re worshiping? Would they conclude that you’re worshiping God or the life He gave you?

Gratitude journals, positivity habits, and manifestation trends are everywhere right now, most especially in Gen Z spaces. But biblical gratitude isn’t about feeling more positive or attracting a better life. It’s about exposing who we have given our whole hearts to and revealing what we truly worship.

The Bible never treats gratitude as a mood enhancer, rather, it treats gratitude as a mirror.

Are we mostly thankful for comfort, success, convenience, and the things that make life easier?
Or does our gratitude point to God Himself and His character, His presence, and His faithfulness?

Your thankfulness will always reveal what sits on the throne of your heart.

Although modern “gratitude practices” often stop at acknowledging good things, biblical gratitude pushes deeper, forcing us to trace every good thing back to the One who provides it.

This kind of gratitude rewires our worship.
It reminds us that the blessings aren’t the point, our great God is.

Romans chapter 1 says that humanity’s downfall began with this: “They did not give thanks.”
Thanklessness is never neutral, it naturally drifts toward worshiping created things.

When we withhold gratitude from God, we don’t stop worshiping.
We just worship something else.

For many of us, this might look like achievement, image, relationships, success, or comfort.

If God isn’t receiving our gratitude and thankfulness, something else is receiving our worship.

A 5 Minute Gratitude Diagnostic

Ask yourself:
“If I wrote down the first 5 things I’m thankful for today, what would they reveal about what I treasure most?”

Do those five things reflect:

• Comfort?
• Achievement?
• Control?
• Or Christ?

Instead of thanking God for something He’s given you, thank Him for something about Him:

• His patience
• His authority
• His closeness
• His holiness
• His love and mercy

Gratitude is more than a warm feeling you cultivate during Thanksgiving week.
It’s spiritual warfare against idolatry.
It’s a declaration of who you belong to.
And it’s one of the clearest mirrors you have for seeing who you are really worshiping.

LOOKING AHEAD TO DECEMBER