As the Thanksgiving holiday has ended, I have been reflecting on my own gratitude practice. Or should I say, lack of. Why is it so hard to give thanks, practice gratitude, and say “thank you”? Why is it so easy to ask for something, to tell God what you want and what you need? How many times have you prayed, asking God for His blessing in some area, only to receive that blessing and then move on with life as before? I am raising my hand! Too often than I care to admit, I have forgotten to tell Him thank you. Imagine how He must feel. He just answered my prayers and pleadings and selfishly I left Him forgotten.
To think that I have left the creator of the universe without any acknowledgment or recognition for what He just did is saddening. Using my own dealings with anxiety and depression, I want to rush and find the healing I so desperately need, and all along the way there have been signs of growth and improvement, but I have missed them or taken them for granted. If I were to take the time to stop, reflect, and be thankful that I am not where I used to be, I would be much better off. I would appreciate the journey, recognize signs of growth and progress, and be able to see this season in a more positive perspective.
An article I read recently on the meaning of Philippians 4:6 puts it like this, “Gratitude is powerful because, by pulling our attention away from ourselves and focusing our eyes on God, we’re reminded that God is with us and that He is good.”1 I love this. The author is helping us see that by practicing gratitude and being more thankful, we are automatically drawn to the One who made it all happen. Our eyes are no longer drawn inwardly, but out to a higher power.
So, how can we become better at practicing gratitude? Start a gratitude journal. You can do this by physically writing it down or using an app on your phone. Start your morning or end your day by taking note of just three things to be thankful for. When you say your prayers to God, ensure your perspective is not focused inward. Thank Him for the day, for the trivial things, the important things, for who He is. Maybe reflect on the Lord’s Prayer for guidance. I will leave it written below for you. I challenge you to take part in any or all these practices and see how your perspective shifts. I hope this year and every year we practice thanksgiving not for just a season, but all year.
The Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Matthew 6:9-13
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:6 ESV
- Unwin, S. (2024, February 15). The truth behind the verse that says “don’t be anxious.” anxious faith. https://www.anxiousfaith.org/blog/the-truth-behind-the-verse-that-says-dont-be-anxious
