We are now a few short weeks from the end of the year. If you’re anything like me then there’s some excitement and a little bit of fear.
You are looking forward to the new year and a new decade but also wondering about the current one.
This year has probably been one of mixed blessings – some good things happened and some not so good.
Last week, a friend reminded me that our definition of good and bad is often different from God’s.
We often consider things in a linear way – like getting a job is a good thing but losing a job is a bad thing.
But God looks at the whole, he knows all the pieces of the puzzle and knows what should go where.
This is why what we think is wrong, like losing a job, may actually be part of God’s plan as it may be the motivation we need to finally start a business or something he has laid on our hearts for a long while.
This is just one example of many. This example and my experience over the past year have taught me is to thank God in every situation.
We can’t see the end from the beginning. We can only act based on our past, our present and our assumptions of the future.
But God sees and knows everything.
He knows just what we need for each season of our lives. That is definitely a reason to thank him.
So, as we wind up this year and this decade, I would like to encourage you to do one thing:
Thank God
Yes, it’s something you’ve heard and have been told too many times but it’s such an incredible key to a meaningful life.
Thanksgiving does so many things in and for us.
Seven reasons why you should always be grateful
Here are seven reasons to cultivate a grateful heart and live a life of thanksgiving.
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It keeps us humble
Thanksgiving reminds us that we are interdependent and can’t do everything ourselves. It helps us realize that it is really God’s grace that has kept us.
The fact that you are alive, that you have a job, a roof over your head(even if you’re staying with others), your health, your loved ones. It is neither by your power or your might that you have these things.
Remembering these things help us ascribe all honor and glory to God.
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It gives us peace and makes us joyful
Thankfulness helps us see life from a better perspective, not with rose-tinted glasses but with clear, grace-full lenses.
It reminds us that things are never as bad as they seem and centers us in the love and faithfulness of God. It helps us seek and focus on God’s truth about our lives and our trials.
Through thankfulness, we defeat the devil’s ploy to get us living in fear and worry and embrace the beauty and rest we find in Christ.
Here’s what Apostle Paul told the Philippians in Phil 4:6-7:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT Version)
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It builds our faith and keeps us connected to God
A grateful heart is a connected heart. When we move our eyes from our selves and focus on God, we are more likely to spend more time knowing and loving our father.
The more thankful we are, the more we ascribe to the maker of heaven and earth. This invariably means we also trust him to do even more in and through us.
Psalm 95:1-3 says:
“Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.”
The practice of thankfulness helps us go to God no matter what we face. It helps us seek him and show our appreciation to him. Thereby increasing the depth of our relationship with God.
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It reminds us of what’s important in life
Gratitude helps us prioritize the necessities of life. We learn not to trivialize things or focus too much on appearances or the externals. It helps us realize that even when we may not have enough, we often have what we need.
At the crux of it all is contentment. Gratitude teaches us how to be content not in the things we have or don’t have but in the sufficiency of God.
As Paul writes:
“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:12-13
That is what gratitude does for us, it reminds us that the most important thing we have is our relationship with God. That is what makes this life worth living and what makes contentment possible.
I can certainly testify to this. Even when I had been owed my fees for most of this year, I experienced God’s provision in the little and big things. I did not lack anything but I learned to be more circumspect with what I have and focus on needs rather than wants.
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It limits our opportunity to complain and be ungrateful
The opposite of gratefulness is ungratefulness. This means that spend time in thanksgiving will limit opportunities to complain and be ungrateful.
More importantly, we know that complaining never helps but rather makes things worse. It clouds our judgments and makes it impossible to see any good in what we have gone through.
James says:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4 (NIV Version)
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It helps us stay connected to others
Cultivating a grateful heart opens us up to help others and accept their help. We realize that we can’t do everything and are better able to appreciate the assistance of others.
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
The above scripture verses show that God uses people to actualize his will, I’m sure if you look over this past year, you will be able to name quite a few people who have been a blessing in your life. Don’t forget to thank God for them and also pray for them.
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It opens the doors to more blessings and opportunities
An article by Harvard health states that “in positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Similarly, people who regularly express their gratitude are happier and better able to make meaningful decisions, which ultimately improves the quality of their lives.
The final and all-encompassing reason to cultivate a grateful heart is that this is what God wants of us.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we are encouraged to:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I have found that there is always something to be grateful for. Something in every hour and every day that could have only happened by God’s mercy and grace.
For the rest of this year and as you enter the New Year, I pray that you continue to praise and thank God.
I pray that you find the positives and lessons in your opportunities and experiences.
May your life always be meaningful and intentional, amen.
Gratitude challenge – cultivating a grateful heart
Sisters!!! We have an exciting challenge to end the year with a bang. Here’s how the challenge works:
What are you thankful for? Why not start out by writing out:
- 50 things you’re grateful for
- 50 reasons why you are grateful for those particular things
- A prayer of thanksgiving for all God has done
- Do it all in no more than 2 sittings
To get you started, I created some gratitude sheets just for you. You can share these with your friends and family. You can fill the form below to get your sheets.
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