November is the time of year we readily express our
gratitude. At our Thanksgiving tables we tell each other what we’re most
grateful for. But how do we encourage and cultivate our aptitude for gratitude
all year around? We need to cultivate gratitude all year because there is something
about giving thanks that changes our mindset. When we are thankful, we reset
our focus off of ourselves and our problems and onto the goodness of God. The
effect is immediate. I believe this is what Paul is saying in Philippians
4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus” (NIV). When we are anxious – pray and petition God – but do it
with gratitude. Having gratitude reminds us that God is in control and has always
been faithful. When we remember His sovereignty and His faithfulness, we can
experience His peace.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul instructs us through the Holy
Spirit to “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you
in Christ Jesus” (NIV). This means that we are to be thankful all the time!
Whatever we’re dealing with, our reaction should be one of gratitude. This
takes discipline. As in everything that is worth getting good at, we must
practice at it. We must practice gratitude. How can we go about that? I would
like to offer 5 practices to help us cultivate gratitude in all circumstances
so we can be in God’s will for us.
1.
Purposefully thank God for things you never
thought to thank him for. I was on a walk lately and I began to pray while
I was walking. As I was praying, I suddenly started to recognize things I
appreciated but never praised God for – air was one of them. The air that
morning was so crisp and lovely. I was breathing the air in and out of my lungs
with ease. I do that every single day without thinking about it. So I thanked God
for the air. And then I began to notice other wonderful things I never thanked
him for – the grass, the smell of grass, the cement under my feet to keep me
steady, I even thanked God for the bugs. He is the creator of everything and
deserves our gratitude for all of it. Thanking him for things we take for granted
helps us put in perspective who He is.
2.
Thank God for hard things. How do we
express gratitude in difficult situations? One thing we can be grateful for,
and certain of in every hard circumstance we face is that God will use the
situation to make us more like Himself. God can take any dumpster fire and use
it to sanctify us. Romans 8:28-29 says: “And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the
image of His Son …” He is going to use that tough situation to change you.
Thank Him for that.
3.
Serve people who are struggling. Giving
our time, energy and money to folks who don’t have a whole lot, helps us better
put in perspective exactly what good things God has given us. This can include
giving to the Operation Christmas Child. We don’t get to see the kids who
receive the boxes, but just knowing that we’re helping kids who have nothing
takes what we have and makes it enough.
4.
Record answers to prayer. When we have
answers to prayer written down, we can look back and see all God has provided –
all the ways he has been faithful. We won’t forget them! The Israelites built
monuments as a visible reminder to them and to future generations of God’s
faithfulness. I have what I call a “monuments journal” for myself, a place to
write down what he’s done so I can look back at it – and so my kids can look
back at it, too. His faithfulness builds and sustains our gratitude.
5.
Thank your friends for things you appreciate
about them. How often do we do that? Our friends and family mean so much to
us, yet we don’t often take the time to express it. Send a friend a note or
tell them in person that you appreciate them. God has gifted us with
relationships. Cherish the relationships through gratitude.
As you’re sitting around your Thanksgiving table, continue
the old tradition of expressing thanks, but practice your gratitude through the
year, too. A heart grateful in all circumstances takes practice. Spend time
cultivating a grateful heart.
Kelly Lopez lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho with her wonderful (and incredibly patient) husband, Rick, and their two quickly growing children, Eva and Henry. She loves to read copious amounts of both fiction and nonfiction, write (especially on graph paper), walk to nowhere in particular, and drink black coffee while having conversations about the Bible and spiritual things. And she also loves bacon cheeseburgers. Isn’t life grand?