We normally think of time in terms of past, present, and future. But with every tick of the clock, the present becomes the past, and the only thing we can truly influence is the future. And because much of the future is not under our control, the best way to prepare for it is to develop an “attitude of gratitude” before the future arrives. The only thing we can ultimately control about the future is our response to it.

When Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, they were thankful to be rescued. But their gratitude soon turned to grumbling in the desert of the Sinai Peninsula. Moses led them into the wilderness instead of directly into Canaan because they would have encountered the war-like Philistines and wanted to return immediately to Egypt (Exodus 13:17-18). There is no indication that Moses explained this detour to the people, and the grumbling continued throughout their forty years of wandering.

The best way to prepare for the future is to commit to trusting God and being grateful for whatever the future holds. 

The essence of Christian ethics is gratitude.
R. C. Sproul