OCTOBER 3, 2023
1 Corinthians
15:57
"But thanks be to
God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Life has many
ups and downs. Sometimes we may feel we are on top of the world, and everything
is as it should be. Other times, we may be emotional, physically, or mentally
on our last straw. This means at some points thankfulness and gratitude is
easy, while at other times it may be the last thing on our minds.
As Followers of
Jesus, even when we are at our very lowest, we know we have salvation through him.
What an amazing gift this is for us, we cannot even fully comprehend the
sacrifice and the grace that Jesus has given us. We can forever be grateful for
this gift of grace, no matter what is happening in our life or in the world around us.
I believe
there is reason each day for us to give thanks to God for the great things He
has done. Giving thanks does not have to be a grand gesture or complicated. In
fact, it can be as simple as giving a prayer of thanks. Perhaps, we see a
beautiful sunrise or enjoy a tasty meal. Maybe, we see someone do something
kind or perhaps we have a little time to ourselves. We say, (Pray) “thank You, God.”
Do you
find, as I do, that there are so many details in our daily lives we are trying
to complete, that we can overlook if we are not careful, the “thankful moments”
or events we experience. Each day brings new opportunity to be grateful and
celebrate what God has done and is doing.
So here
are some helps for us, some Thankfulness Activities that may just help us keep
the thanksgiving mind set and be alert to God’s actions around us. Here are
some ways we can practice and become a more thankful people:
Remember
the gospel:
The gospel message is powerful. We can never reflect on its beauty too much.
Notice
the little things:
Some people find it helpful to make a list of things they notice in their lives
that they want to be thankful for. Others may mentally note what is good in
their lives. For some, writing a song or making artwork may be a way to notice
the little things.
Turn
to scripture:
The Bible is full of reasons for gratitude and testimonies of God’s goodness.
Sometimes, a passage can speak to our hearts and give us new perspectives. When
we spend time in God’s Word, we can grow our gratitude.
Use
your gifts: At
times we can forget the gifts God has blessed us with. Perhaps, we are good
with numbers or love to sing. We can use our gifts to bring glory and gratitude
to God.
Show
gratitude and kindness to others:
One way to develop an attitude of thankfulness is through expressing gratitude
to those around us. Whether it be a stranger who bagged your groceries or
friend who took time out of their day to help you, we can appreciate the things
others do for us.
Praise
and worship:
Worship and praise is another way that we can practice building grateful habits
and rejoicing in the Lord. Find or create a playlist that helps you to express
thankfulness to God.
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