We have the choice to be grateful for what we have and like about the world, or to worry about what we don’t like. Like all of His commandments, God’s preference for gratitude comes from the simple fact that it is better for us, bringing more peace and joy to ourselves and those around us.

Try it sometime. Spend an hour thanking God for the things that you are grateful for. Then spend an hour complaining about what you don’t like about your life. Go ahead and tell God about them, I guess. He probably won’t like it, but it’s not like He doesn’t know anyway. See which hour makes you feel better. Or just take Him at His word and skip step two.

Spoiler alert, I’ve done a lot of both. Gratitude always wins.