This week we are talking about gratitude as we prepare for next week’s American Thanksgiving holiday.
Psalm 100:4 tells us that we enter into the Presence of God with thanksgiving and praise.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. Psalm 100:4
It would follow that the easiest way to spend time with the Lord is to thank Him. The habit of gratitude breeds the life-giving attitude of gratitude. As I shared yesterday, the attitude and approach of gratitude brings the peace that guards your heart and mind.How do you develop the attitude of thanksgiving? My suggestion is to pick a time daily to list at least three things that you are grateful for.
Many people start their day with a gratitude list. Like daily affirmations, a gratitude list helps to keep your mindset on the Lord and on the positive aspects of your life.
Other people prefer to reflect on their day at night, before going to sleep. Recognizing what you are thankful for at the end of the day promotes better sleep since it is a way to release the negative things of the day. That allows your mind to stop thinking about the challenges that need to be solved and rest for the night.
Another approach to create a daily gratitude habit is to think about your list midday—when you sit down to eat lunch. Thanking the Lord in the middle of the day could serve to change your mindset if you are having a tough day.
Whenever you choose to take the time to thank the Lord, I recommend that you make it a habit. You will find your outlook on life improves. You will discover that your ability to surrender things to the Lord becomes easier. You will realize that you reflect the love of the Father more radiantly.
To help you on your way to create your daily habit, allow me to offer a few less common items for your gratitude list. Repeat after me…
Today I am grateful for
-The Moment
-My Growth
-Movement
-My Emotions
-My Intuition
-My Resilience
-The Earth
-Abundance
-The Mundane
-The Air I Breathe
-Who God Created You to Be
-What God Created You to Do
Whenever you take the time, enter the gates to the Presence of God with thanksgiving on your heart, mind, and lips.