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Several years ago on my personal blog, every time I posted I included several things I was thankful for. There were big things, like my family, and there were small things, like the softness of my cats’ fur. I wanted to remind myself that even in the midst of adversity, I have so much to be grateful for. Popular author Ann Voskamp wrote a bestselling book called One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. That’s a practical gratitude meaning I can get behind: looking at all you have, the little graces of every day, and moving into a fuller, happier life.
In this time before we celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S., I want to encourage you to adopt a lifestyle of gratitude. Following are the short versions of 5 biblical meditations from Abide that will help you build gratitude into your everyday life.
Check Your Attitude
Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” When times are hard, it’s easy to have an attitude of scarcity, or a poverty mindset. But God gives abundantly; it just might not always look like we expect it to. When I find myself with an envious attitude toward what others have, or mostly trips they take, I stop and remember all that God has done for me. How might you need to change your attitude? Can you adjust your definition of gratitude?
Live Like Jesus Did
Was Jesus thankful? That might seem like a funny question, but Jesus always knew where His provision came from. He taught about it and He always lived what He taught. There are several times in the Gospel accounts that Jesus is quoted as giving thanks to His Father. I can imagine that He said it many more times than the writers recorded. If we follow Jesus with our whole hearts, doing what He did becomes natural.
Learn to Be Thankful in Everything
A Bible verse that often trips people up is 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” What people often miss is that it doesn’t say “for” every circumstance; it says “in” every circumstance. No matter what goes on around you, God is within you. If our definition of gratitude means looking at all you have, the little graces of every day, and moving into a fuller, happier life, then we can always be thankful.
Live a Grateful Lifestyle
Once you’ve adopted the gratitude meaning you can agree with—whether it’s the one I’ve provided here or one of your own—let the way you live embody that. I’m not saying, and I don’t think the 1 Thessalonians 5 verse is suggesting, that you never grieve losses or lament over them. Lament is vital for our mental health and gives us an amazing connection to God. There’s an entire book of the Bible called Lamentations. In the midst of those 5 chapters, the prophet Ezekiel writes, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
It’s very important that we don’t miss this: Everything isn’t always sunshine and roses, but God is always faithful. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is with us in the midst of sorrow. We can live a grateful lifestyle by acknowledging God as our ever present help in times of trouble.
Take a Gratitude Challenge
Are you ready to put your gratitude meaning to work? Take this 5-day gratitude challenge.
Download the Abide app for more biblical meditations that will help you draw closer to God and understand His heart for generosity, gratitude, and faith in His provision. A premium subscription gains you access to our entire library of full-length meditations, Bible-based sleep stories, and daily devotionals. Use this link for 25% off.
