Perspective Shift: Student EditionSample

If you've ever found yourself thinking about God's will for your life, the answer begins here—with a heart full of gratitude. Ever felt like your life was missing something? Like you're running on a treadmill, always seeking but never finding? It might surprise you, but the first step off of that treadmill starts with two simple words: "Thank you." Paul meant it when he said, "...in everything give thanks." We know the man had his share of hardships. Yet he knew that gratitude wasn't a self-help tip for a better day, it was God's will. So take a moment. Reflect on the blessings you overlook. Do you go to school? Do you have a job? Is your health more of a blessing than a burden? Do you have even one good friend? Food on your table? A loving family? If you're nodding to even a few of these, you have more than you think. You're in the world's top ten per cent! Don’t waste these gifts by dreaming about everything we don’t have. Instead, let's cultivate a grateful heart. Gratitude is a discipline; a use-it-or-lose-it muscle we train every day. Starting with “thank you” doesn’t change what you have, it changes the way you see what you have. And a grateful heart sees every day as a gift.

• Recite this week's memory verse: Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11, NKJV).
• What are the top three things you're most grateful for right now?
• When you feel discontent, how do you typically respond? Could having a moment of gratitude change your perspective?