Question: How can I feel more gratitude (live daily with an attitude of gratitude so I can feel greater joy and peace)?
Answer: 3 Nephi 16:16-20 and Tia's inspiration.
My interpretation:
Yesterday, after I had decided to ask this question today, I read Tia's 30 Day Challenge post, which spoke of "soaking in God's goodness--to notice, explore, appreciate, and delve into His goodness (blessings) and presence (tender mercies and Spirit) in my life." The Spirit helped me recognize as I read this that it could be part of my "gratitude" answer--noticing and appreciating the presence of His Spirit, answers to prayers, and the blessings I have that come from God each day. She also said that the prerequisite for this was humility and keeping the commandments (which I realized would help me to recognize and appreciate the presence of the Spirit and my blessings, as well as to qualify to have the Spirit with me each day).
The scriptures I was guided to then echoed Tia's inspiration.
Verse 16: "give unto this people...inheritance" = Heavenly Father blesses us with so much (and truly desires to bless us with His inheritance one day).
Verse 18: Suggests seeing the hand of God in my life and lifting up my voice in prayers of gratitude.
Verse 19: 2 things. First, socking in--really feeling--His goodness in my life, letting His love wash over me and FEELING gratitude for it (and not justifying it or brushing it off). Second, I had prayed to have gratitude so I could feel joy and peace, and this verse speaks of "joy and comfort."
Verse 20: Counsels to see God's hand and blessings in my life, including His salvation.
Ch. 17 heading: Suggests praying to recognize manifestations of His love (His tender mercies and blessings towards me) and to continue to feel gratitude. Maybe also to ponder His promises and be able to recognize their fulfillment (blessings) as I choose the right.
Something I read in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People last night I believe also applies to this. It talked about not being so efficiency focused, so we can "have opportunities to develop rich relationships, to meet human needs, and to enjoy spontaneous moments on a daily basis." I feel like being efficiency focused is exactly what I am right now and need to change, and that doing so will help me greater experience the joy of living the gospel (that I will have multiple daily moments with family and friends in which I feel joy and thus gratitude. And that feeling gratitude--recognizing the blessings I AM receiving for living the gospel--will bring me joy, and help me feel like the gospel truly is working wonderfully for me).
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