Living In Gratitude

 By: Grace Metzger

Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18

Recently I spoke with someone I’ve known for a few years. This is a man who’s complained about his job every single day since I’ve met him. At the moment he’s been on medical leave for almost a month. And today, I got to hear this man say that he’s become grateful for his job since being away from it.

After the conversation, I thought to myself, how can this man only realize his gratitude after being away from it? Why did he have to go through something awful in order to see the goodness that is in his job? As I was thinking this, I felt God start to convict me a little bit because I was judging this man so harshly for not being grateful for his job when I myself have been complaining about my job all week. I started to think about how I’m never grateful for anything until I lose it. I think it’s a real common fact in the world today we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone. 

I tend to be a very negative person. My mind focuses on the bad things more often than the good. So after I felt a nudge from God, I decided that every morning for two weeks straight I was going to write down one thing I was grateful for. At first it was easy! I was grateful for my family, my home, food on my table, etc. After a bit, I had some difficulties finding things to be grateful for, but when I realized that I was becoming more intentional and looking for things to be grateful for it. I realize that my day started having a more positive outlook.

It’s very easy in the world today to become a negative person, everyone thinks that they have a worst life and that everything constantly goes wrong. But when we start looking for the positives in our life, when we open our eyes to the blessings, we realize we have so many things to be thankful for. God is blessing in our life every single day, but we can’t see it because we are focused more on complaining. 

Giving thanks always and for everything to God
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I think of it like the Israelites, they were led out of Egypt and instead of focusing on that amazing thing, they decided complain and cry that they didn’t have the comforts that they wanted. Are we living our life like this the Israelites? Are we so focused on the small things that we miss blessings that God is giving us every single day? Are we too busy complaining to God to thank Him for what He’s doing in our life?

This week I challenge you every single morning to find one thing you’re thankful for. You’ll start noticing a difference in your life. Instead of complaining to God constantly, now you’re focused on giving Him thanks and praising His glorious grace to you. 

Discussion question: how are you incorporating thankfulness into your daily life?

Trust In His Name

 By: Joanne Viola

Sometimes when facing a challenge, I return to the familiar story of the battle of Jericho. The battle strategy, if you can call it such, was to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times and when the priests gave the signal, all the people were to shout as loudly as they could. You can read the story for yourself in Joshua 6.

It was God’s strategy, not Joshua’s. It probably made no sense at all to the people. They had to march in silence other than their one shout (see verse 10). No complaining that the sun was scorching, or they were thirsty, or their feet hurt, or how much further till they could stop. They marched and remained in silence until the shout.

The shout – the shout of victory. The shout was to remind all the people of God’s Presence and His might.

“God’s people had to exercise faith in Him before Jericho would fall.

Spiritual victories are impossible without the help of God’s Spirit.”

 (from the Key Word Commentary, page 205)

What battle do you find yourself facing today?

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying,
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
says the Lord of hosts.”
(Zechariah 4:6, NASB)

We are to be wholly dependent on God. Our God can make the mountains before us as level ground. He can open closed doors. He can make a way when there is no way.

And in the meantime, while we wait and battle, we are to be thankful:

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, NASB)

It is God’s will for us to be joyful, praying and giving thanks in all circumstances. So today, let us all give thanks. Let us lift up the Name of Jesus, and keep trusting Him.

It is to His Great Name we give thanks.
It is in His Great Name we trust.
His Great Name – Jesus.

 

 

Reflection:
What battle do you find yourself facing today? How do you keep on trusting Him in the midst of the challenges?

 

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

 

A Prayer for Black Friday

 By: Lauren Thomas 

Today is known as Black Friday. It’s the day after Thanksgiving that, for many, heralds the beginning of the Christmas season. I hold a tradition of waiting until this day to put up my Christmas decorations. 

 

Black Friday is also a day of commercialism and spending. And while I’ve occasionally snatched up a too-good-to-pass deal on this day…(this blog post IS NOT an anti-shopping manifesto)…here is your loving reminder to not let the meaning of Thanksgiving fade so quickly.

On one day, Thanksgiving Day, we celebrate the many things we have and are thankful for. The next day, Black Friday, we seem to get amnesia, replacing gratitude for materialism and a slew of other things that “so easily entangle” (see Hebrews 12:1 NIV; think greed, envy, discontentment, etc.). But gratitude doesn’t have to stop on Thanksgiving! And it actually sets the stage for a much better Christmas season. 

 

Today, I join with Paul in this prayer/exhortation:

 

¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV)

 

During the Christmas season, we remember that Christ is the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6). And here in Colossians, Paul prays for Christ’s peace to rule our hearts (v. 15). At Thanksgiving we are “thankful.” Here, Paul tells us to be thankful (v. 15). At Christmas, we sing all kinds of seasonal songs. As Paul exhorts us, let’s do so with thankfulness in our hearts (v. 16). And whether or not we engage in shopping holiday sales, let’s do everything in Jesus’s name, giving thanks to God the Father (v. 17).

 

Amen!

 

Reflection:

How can a heart of gratitude change your experience of the Christmas season?

What is one area in which you need the peace of Christ to rule in your heart?

What has been your favorite Black Friday purchase? (I just had to ask!)

ACTS Prayer Model: Thanksgiving

By: Jenifer Metzger

We are on a four week study on the ACTS Prayer Model.
Week One: HERE
Week Two: HERE.

Today we are on the T in the ACTS Prayer Model, which stands for thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is such a beautiful thing. To open our eyes and hearts to God's goodness all around Him and thank Him for all He's done, it is powerful.

Friend, God is good. He is so worthy of our praise and gratitude. The truth is, if God never did another thing for us ever, He would still be worthy of our praise and gratitude.

Give thanks to the God of heaven!

His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 136:26 CSB

From the very moment we open our eyes in the morning, there is something to give thanks for. We can thank God for the sleep we had, the bed we had to sleep on, the roof covering our head while we slept, the air in our lungs, the sun that rose. As we go about our day we can thank Him for our families, our house, job, car, church, friends, family, neighbors, the list is truly endless.

Did you know you can even thank God for the mundane? Thank Him for the dishes in the sink because it means you had food. Thank Him for the shoes your family left out because it means life in your home. Thank Him for the baby that kept you awake at night because somewhere in the world is a woman praying to God for a baby to keep her up at night.

When we intentionally spend time giving thanks, our hearts become more content and joy sinks in deep.

Give thanks in everything;

for this is God’s will for

you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 CSB

Discussion:
1. Are you intentional with regular thanksgiving?
2. What is something you are thankful for today?

What Do You Take For Granted?

 

By: Donna Bucher

I had an interesting conversation this week with someone. The conversation centered on our raised awareness regarding things we often take for granted. Certainly, living through a pandemic highlighted aspects and privileges of our lives we never thought about losing.

Just think about the countless things we take for granted everyday regardless of whether a pandemic exists or not.

Naturally our conversation lingered on gratitude; expressing our agreement we had much for which to thank God. Ever the rebel, I commented that we should even be thankful for the pandemic!

 

Startled by their remark, “We don't need to be thankful for anything we didn't ask for; good or bad.” I shared a little from one of my recent posts, "Gratitude For What Remains", where I talk about grief recovery, re-framing life after loss, and gratitude.

Unfortunately, they continued pushing the view we need only express gratitude for things which please and bring happiness.

 

I found the whole conversation troubling. Saddened by such a selfish view of gratitude, I wondered, “how intentional was I in giving God thanksgiving?”

Then I came across this quote on Pinterest: What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?" 

Wow! If the ingratitude of the person in my encounter troubled me, the above quote finished me off.

Bringing me up short, there in the midst of my judgmental attitude, I came face to face with my own ingratitude.

What if I did wake up tomorrow with only those things, I thanked God for today? What did I thank God for today?

 

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

Ultimately, we often thank God for simple things, especially when everything goes our way. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, God expects our thanksgiving in all circumstances.

Paul’s teaching takes gratitude a step further in Ephesians 5:20:

“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:20

 

Perhaps offering God thanksgiving in all circumstances and for everything is not an area of struggle for you, but I know I often neglect thanking God for my family, my job, home, and certainly for my trials.

When we fail to give thanks for our circumstances or things God allows in our lives, we not only demonstrate ingratitude, but we “take them for granted”.

Guilty of taking many things "for granted". I looked up the phrase to put the meaning in front of my eyes.

Here's what taking something for granted implies: "to never think about something because you believe it will always be available or stay exactly the same. Some comments added, "to never express gratitude for".

 

How such an attitude in His children must pain God.

Because on a deeper level, it demonstrates a belief of always having certain things or situations, or our lives will remain the same, with no regard for the loving Father whose Presence provides them.

I hope you'll join me this week and take a good look at things you may take for granted and realize they may not always be available or stay the same.

And remember, one of he things we often take for granted is the power of gratitude. When you are thankful for something, even something unpleasant or unrequested, you and your situation experience a transformation.

A heart full of gratitude sees all of life with eyes of wonder.

"Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."

William Arthur Ward

Reflection Questions:

In what ways can you be more grateful in all circumstances?

Which things do you tend to “take for granted” as per our definition above?

Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!

 

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Praying Thankfulness

 By: Paula Short

God has been putting Colossians 3:15-17 on my heart lately. It was the topic recently of an online Bible study I participate in weekly. 

I've read these words many times before. But why were they pressing on my heart in such an intense way this time? God was prompting me about something, but what?

Let's take a look.

"Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful." Colossians 3:15— NASB

Here Paul is telling us to let Christs, peace be an intercessor and mediator, in our hearts. Sometimes our hearts harbor conflict because there, feelings and desires clash. Like fears and hopes, distrust and trust, jealousy and love, and so on. Paul explains that we must decide between conflicting elements by using the rule of peace. 

Pray— Father God, today I'm thankful to have the peace of Christ rule in my heart.

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16— NIV

Early Christians did have access to the Old Testament and freely used it. But they did not have the New Testament or other study guides like we do today. Their stories and teachings were memorized and passed from person to person. Often these teachings were set to music and singing. Music became an important part of Christian worship and learning, much like today. 

Pray— Father God, I am thankful that your message dwells within me. Thank you for placing others in my path to share your Word with them. It makes my heart smile when I sing worship songs to you.

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17— NLT

Doing all in the name of the Lord means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect of daily living. As Christians, we represent Christ at all times. 

Pray— Father God, I'm thankful to be your representative. May all I do or say reflect and honor you. 

Thankful people can worship wholeheartedly. Gratitude opens our hearts to God's peace and enables us to put on love. 

Reflection

How can we deal with conflicts within us and do what God wants?

What impression do people have of Christ when they see or talk with you?

Enter with Thanksgiving

By: Jenifer Metzger

The past couple of years have been difficult.

Losing my mother-in-law, uncle, grandfather, grandmother, and one of my best friends; feeling distant from family members that I desperately need; battling depression for the first time in my life; and so many life changes that my head spins. It is all so much.

Yet, when I think of the goodness of God, I see that there is so much to be thankful for. Through it all, I can still enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving;

go into His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.|

His unfailing love continues forever,

and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 100:4-5

No matter what season we are in - life is smooth sailing or the waters are choppy - we can enter into the Lord's gates with thanksgiving and praise. There is always something to be thankful for.

Throughout the last couple of years I have learned that while the day may not be a good day, there is something good I can give thanks for. While I may be facing difficult circumstances, there is always something to praise the Lord for.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow, pause and enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.

It's time for Share A Link Wednesday! Each Wednesday we invite you to leave a link to your latest blog post in the comments. We still desire to connect women of God with one another and encourage each other in Christ. So grab a cup of coffee or glass of sweet tea, sit back and visit a few blogs. Be encouraged and share your own stories.

Developing A Thanksgiving Lifestyle

by Elizabeth Stewart                  

Thanksgiving Day is this week! I believe that thanksgiving should be more than something we focus on for one day a year. For that reason, I have made a "tradition" of repeating this post about a simple way to make thanksgiving more than just a holiday. I believe it should be the lifestyle of the believer.

 It was really eye opening to me the day I stumbled upon Deuteronomy 28:47, (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition), in my Bible reading. In this verse we find out that one of the reasons that God's people were living a less than life was "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of mind and heart in gratitude for the abundance of all with which He had blessed you." Gratitude is important to God and it's life changing for us.  Ann Voskamp, author of the book One Thousand Gifts, writes, "Give thanks if you are joyful is, in reality, to be joyful give thanks." Did you notice in that verse in Deuteronomy how, to God, both our joyfulness and our gratitude are not only important, but connected? 

So, how do we become a more grateful, thankful person?  How do we make thanksgiving a lifestyle? I've found that one simple habit has been life changing for me in making me a more thankful person. Before Ann Voskamp wrote her book she blogged about her habit of gratitude journaling, of writing down at least three things that she was grateful for each day.  She encouraged her blog readers to do the same, and then once a week we would write blog posts filled with our weekly gratitudes and link it up on her website.  I began gratitude journaling due to her encouragement in 2009 and have been writing down at least three things I am grateful for every day since.  I've now journaled almost fourteen thousand things that I am grateful for in the subsequent years.  This simple practice has helped me to see, in the hardest of times and in the best of times, that God is always faithful and there is always something to be thankful for.  Thanksgiving has become a habit! It really is that simple. If you want to develop a more thanks filled lifestyle, why not give it a try?  All you need is some sort of simple notebook or journal, a pen and a willing heart!

justfollowingjesus.com

5 Meditation Verses for a Thankful Heart

 

By: Sarah Geringer 

Do you have a thankful heart? Meditating on verses of thanksgiving can help you develop thankfulness, no matter your circumstance. Use these NLT verses during your meditation time to learn the benefits of having a thankful heart. They are ideal for preparing your heart for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. 

And each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing songs of thanks and praise to Him. 

1 Chronicles 23:30

Develop a habit of thanking God at the beginning and end of each day. This practice will give you greater peace and joy!

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 

Psalm 28:7

Reciting God's names are a great way to cultivate thankfulness. Recounting his good and faithful acts in your life will inspire your praise.

 

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. 

Psalm 50:14

Thankfulness can feel like a sacrifice when you are tempted to worry, fret, fear or complain instead. But by intentionally choosing to thank God in those moments, your thanksgiving is a sweet-smelling, precious sacrifice to your Lord.

I trust God’s love forever and ever. God, I will thank You forever for what You have done. With those who worship you, I will trust You because You are good. 

Psalm 52:8–9

Thanking God on a regular basis increases your trust in him. As you trust him more, your faith will grow stronger. Thankfulness is a key to spiritual growth.

Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. 

Colossians 3:17

Thanksgiving is an act of obedience to God. It honors him and reminds us that he is first in our lives, that he is good, and that he keeps his promises. Your regular acts of obedience in thanking God will draw you closer to him.

I encourage you to write out these verses on sticky notes or 3 x 5 cards to meditate on them throughout the week. Want a free printable of these verses? Download it HERE!

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Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings and God's peace to you,

Sarah Geringer
Finding Peace in God's Word

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Thanks to BibleGateway.com for easy scripture navigation!

How to Cultivate a Thankful Heart

 

By: Sarah Geringer 

A thankful life means more than just telling God “thank you” for your blessings. It involves many other aspects of the Christian life. These verses will help you learn how God hears your thankfulness best, and they will help you cultivate a thankful heart.

Thank God by counting blessings

May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:11–14

No matter your situation, you can always count your heavenly blessings. Jesus rescued you from the power of death by paying the price for your sins. He has given you an eternal inheritance. That’s always a reason for thankfulness! Counting your blessings, whether big and small, cultivates a thankful heart.

Thank God by keeping promises

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Psalm 50:141

God wants us to keep the promises we make to him and to others. In doing so, we offer thankfulness as a sacrificial gift.

Thank God by trusting him

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

When we trust God, we show our reliance upon him rather than upon our own strength. His help inspires joy and thanksgiving in our hearts.

Thank God through obedience

Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. Colossians 3:17

God knows we love him when we obey him. In every activity of our life, obedience and thanksgiving should be benchmarks.

Thank God through music

And each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing songs of thanks and praise to Him. 1 Chronicles 23:30

Whether you can carry a tune or not, God loves to hear you sing to him. Sing in the shower, in the car, in your home while doing chores. Your praises will create a thankful song to God.

Thank God through prayer

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. Philippians 4:6

It’s easy to fall into a habit of simply making requests of God in our times of prayer. But God wants more from us than our requests. He wants our praise and thanksgiving too. By thanking God for specific blessings in prayer, we gain a healthy perspective on life and quell anxiety.

Thank God with a positive attitude

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:20

Every circumstance, whether good or bad, presents an opportunity for thanksgiving. Even in the worst of times, we can be thankful for God’s constant presence and his provision. Staying positive is a way of saying “thank you” to God every day.

Thank God with reverence

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. Hebrews 12:28

We need to hold God in high honor, with respect and awe for his power and might. By taking a humble stance with God, we can thank him through our reverent worship.

Let these verses plant seeds of thankfulness in your heart and reap a thankful harvest for God every day through prayer, meditation, and worship.

Here's a prayer to encourage you today:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all your blessings to me!

They are greater than I can count.

I don't want to only go through the motions of thanking you.

I want to be fully engaged in a life of thankfulness.

Cultivate gratitude in my heart, Jesus.

May my thankfulness be a small gift

in return for all the goodness you show me.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Want more tips on Christian meditation? Check out my book, Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus.

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Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings and God's peace to you,

Sarah Geringer
Finding Peace in God's Word

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Thanks to BibleGateway.com for easy scripture navigation!