Gratitude

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” 1 Chronicles 16:34

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds” Psalms 9:1

Do you appreciate the small joys in life? Are you grateful or thankful for simple blessings?

Here are some things that you maybe haven’t thought of before, to be thankful for:

• When the slow driver in front of you turns onto a different road. If YOU are the slow driver, you can be thankful as well!
• When birdsong follows a storm
• The fact that other people can’t hear our thoughts. We can live safely inside our own heads.

You may find these silly, but challenge yourself to come up with a few on your own! Maybe you’ll look at something in a new way, or find humor in a situation that seems ordinary.

Perhaps regarding more serious matters, sometimes we don’t know to be thankful for something until months or years later, when God’s plan is revealed to us. Even during those “waiting” times, we need to glorify God.

I was reminded of this while reading the First Five app (a division of Proverbs 31 Ministries) earlier this month. A summary of the lesson: Exalting God’s name should be what we strive to do in every situation that life hands us. As the devotion writer says: “Uplifting the Lords’ unchanging character helps stabilize our souls during uncertain circumstances.” This is possible because of His faithful promises. He is our help, and our hope.

Prayer: Dear Lord, things don’t always go our way. Often life is filled with hurts and heartache. Remind us of the things we can be grateful for, even if those things are simple, everyday blessings. Amen.

Donna Gustafson