Yesterday we touched on guarding our hearts to keep us from hardening our hearts. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23) What if what we allow to flow from our hearts is thankfulness?

I was thinking about that this morning while driving to work. I’m still getting over the crud from last week. I didn’t sleep well last night and woke up about an hour and a half before my alarm was scheduled to go off. I was feeling tired and run down.

So while driving to work instead of thinking on how I feel, I listed several things that I am grateful to the Lord for in my life. Then I thought of several more. Instead of allowing negative thoughts to flow out of my heart and mind, I praised our Father. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)

I still don’t feel well and I’m still tired; so that didn’t change. But I have more energy and strength to face my day, I feel light-hearted and a joyous peace. My day today will be a testament of God’s Word in the next verse: “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:9)