Read Psalm 124

Stop and consider your own story of grace today. The reality is that each person’s life is a story filled with endless pages of God’s grace that has shown up—grace that has protected, grace that has provided, and grace that has guided you to the life you live today. The daily call that Christians have is to remember grace which leads to a life filled with gratitude, rather than entitlement which leads to a life filled with pride and discontentment.

Entitlement sneaks up so quietly and insidiously. When I finally get the job or admission into that particular school, I’m led to say, “thank you God for this blessing.” Yet, a short while later as I’m in the thick of things, I’ve found myself saying, “why is my life so hard? I deserve better.” Entitlement turns God’s gifts into the very things we complain about, and the irony is that entitlement makes us forget that it was only due to grace that we can be in a position that we’re choosing to complain about now. 

The remedy to entitlement is that you and I have to develop practices of gratitude. Gratitude doesn’t come naturally to those who struggle with entitlement, so don’t be surprised that gratitude is something you and I have to work at it. Jot down the things and people you’re most grateful for today. Make it a habit in your daily prayers to thank God even for the smallest blessings. And start to pray for a greater awareness of how God’s grace is showing up for you today because I guarantee that it is.