What’s the password?

I don’t know about you, but I have a special place where I keep all my passwords so I can have access to my accounts. Nowadays, passwords are necessary to function in our techy world.  What if I told you there was a password that gives you access to peace, joy, hope, and grace.  Would you want to know it?  The password is eucharisteo: a big Greek word that has even bigger meaning.  Eucharisteo means thanksgiving and contains the root for grace which is charis and joy which is chara, suggesting that true joy is found when we live in a place of thankfulness to God.  The truth is, what you focus on is what you're formed into.  Be consumed by darkness, and the darkness can consume you.  Finding joy in hardship is not about ignoring pain, but about finding a space for joy alongside heartbreak.  I have found that there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for, even in the midst of suffering.  By intentionally focusing on thankfulness, we can shift our perspective away from fear and towards God’s love and provision, recognizing the miracles and His goodness already present in life.  One of Greg’s favorite verses (he would many times start Sunday morning service with) was Psalm 118:24 “This is the day The Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  This is what intentionally focusing on gratitude looks like.  It starts with the mindset that I will celebrate each day as a gift from God and be joyful, regardless of circumstances.  We can have joy in the midst of hardship and suffering. 

Psalm 100

Lift up a great shout of joy to Yahweh!  Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere!  Worship Yahweh with gladness!  Sing your way into His presence with joy!  And realize what this really means—we have the privilege of worshiping Yahweh our God.  For He is our Creator and we belong to Him.  We are the people of His pleasure.  You can pass through His gates with the password of praise [thanksgiving].  Come right into His presence with thanksgiving.  Come bring your thank offering to Him and affectionately bless His beautiful Name!  For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you.  He’s so loving that it will amaze you—so kind that it will astound you!  And He is famous for His faithfulness toward all.  Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for He keeps His promises to every generation.

This is a very short Psalm, only 5 verses.  But in this little psalm is everything we need, so we will know how we ought to walk with God.  It talks about who God is, who we are, how we should live, and what we should do. 

So, let me conclude with some of the top health benefits of thankfulness and gratitude:

1. Lowers blood pressure
2. Lower risk of depression.  According to Sanam Hafeez, MD, gratitude reminds us that not everything in our lives is bad and can give us motivation and a sense of hope that can protect us from feelings of depression.
3. Better sleep.  In a research project of people with chronic pain, those who were assigned a daily gratitude journal assignment reported more sleep than those who were not.  In other studies, the discipline (see it’s intentional) of gratitude and thanksgiving caused people to report faster time to sleep, improved sleep quality, and more alertness during the day.
4. Reduces stress.  Because gratitude activates the parasympathetic nervous system, it can stave off stress which has very well-known destructive health implications.
5. Increased energy.  Multiple studies have correlated vitatlity and gratitude, and because gratitude increases physical and mental well-being, it can lead to increased energy levels.
6. Boost mental strength.  For those who have experienced traumatic events, gratitude has been shown to help buffer the long-term impact of that trauma and can lead to much greater resilience.

Yes, gratitude and thankfulness can rewire the brain by building new neural pathways and strengthening positive ones through a process called neuroplasticity.  Consistent thankfulness practices boost dopamine and serotonin, reduce the brain’s negative bias, and improve emotional regulation, which leads to a more optimistic outlook over time. 

So to conclude, what’s the password to living a life of joy, peace, grace, and hope…EUCHARISTEO…it will give you access to the full and abundant life God intended for you.