Practicing Thankfulness

Practicing Thankfulness

Practicing ThankfulnessPracticing thankfulness is important. There are scientific studies even to prove that practicing thankfulness is healthy in many ways. It helps us to concentrate on the good in our lives for sure. Just like Mr. Roger’s mom used to say to him when he was a boy and saw scary things in the News: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Look for the blessings. You will always find things to be grateful for.

Practicing thankfulness is more than concentrating on the good or practicing positive thinking. When we are thankful, we see life as a gift. When we are practicing thankfulness, we don’t take God and his blessings granted. And that’s the key here, folks.

When we count our blessings – even the small ones – we start seeing God’s work around us. And the more we open our spiritual eyes, the more aware of God we become. And that is a cycle of thankfulness that leads to even more blessings.

But if we don’t practice thankfulness, we forget all the good things God has done to us. And when we keep forgetting and forgetting, we start eventually practicing ungratefulness. We unknowingly distance ourselves from God. And then nothing is good anymore. And that is a cycle of ungratefulness that leads to even more distress.

So let’s not forget to count our blessings. Let’s not forget what God has done for us. Let’s keep on practicing thankfulness. No matter what happens, let’s keep on looking for the blessings.  We will always find things to be grateful for. Because God cares. God knows us and what’s best for us. And he graciously is leading us home.

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
(Psalm 103:1-5, NLT, emphasis added)

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for always blessings us.
Forgive us for sometimes forgetting to thank you
and sometimes taking you granted.
We don’t want to do that.
Remind us to look for the blessings.
Help us to see your love and care around us.
Give us grace for practicing thankfulness daily.
Because you are the source of all the good things in life.
Because only you are worthy of praise.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Are you practicing thankfulness?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you look for the blessings around you!

Photo courtesy of creationswap.com, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Looking up, Sharing His Beauty, Small Wonders, and #WordswithWinter.

6 thoughts on “Practicing Thankfulness

  1. Re-reading the Spirituality of Gratitude for the season, and continually reminded of the truth that gratitude opens our eyes to see the good. If we can find the good, we are on our way to giving thanks to the Giver. Blessed Thanksgiving to you!

  2. Thanks, Mari-Anna! This is excellent. It resonates with some of the theme of the post I will publish for Friday. We need to practice and develop this habit until our hearts resonate with it and it is woven into our being.

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