Thankfulness as a New Psychological Treatment?

I recently read a causal reference to gratitude as a method of therapy used to treat depression. This prompted a bit of research to see if the practice was truly being used as a counseling tool. Here is a sampling of what I found: 

Positive Psychology is a new area of psychology that focuses on the conditions that contribute to flourishing or optimal functioning."Positive Psychology is founded on the belief that people want more than an end to suffering. People want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play. We have the opportunity to create a science and a profession that not only heals psychological damage but also builds strengths to enable people to achieve the best things in life." Professor Martin Seligman, founder of Positive Psychology.
Positive Psychology researchers have identified many everyday activities that improve well being. These include; keeping a gratitude diary, performing small acts of kindness, learning to savor enjoyable moments and varying pleasant experiences to avoid routine.

 http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/depression/treatments/psychological.cfm

This area of psychology may be new but the concept behind it is not. God has designed us for purpose.  He has knit us together and realizes our every emotion. This writing is not meant to be a statement about depression or its treatment – but let us consider that a practice that has gained usage as a psychological counseling tool has benefit to each individual for everyday life. We are instructed throughout scripture to be thankful. 

Consider Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

As we look to the Lord and at God’s directives regarding thankfulness, we see our perspective shifted so that within our struggles we can still be praising God, we can still be obedient, we can parallel Christ’s sufferings, even if only somewhat, which then allows us to draw nearer to Him than we otherwise could dream. Additionally and most importantly, cultivating that thankful spirit allows us to give God the glory and honor He is due.

As we shift from the season of Thanksgiving to the Christmas season, let us not let go of giving thanks! Especially, when it is hard. By doing so we acknowledge that He is God, that He is in control and that we believe His promises are true. With that perspective we can then in everything give thanks, that our Lord might be exalted in all heaven and on the earth!

Isaiah 12:4-5

 And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.