Thanksgiving Day is quickly approaching! I believe that thanksgiving should be more than something we focus on for one day a year. For that reason, I am repeating this post about a simple way to make thanksgiving more than just a holiday. I believe it should be the lifestyle of the believer.
It was really eye opening to me the day I stumbled upon Deuteronomy 28:47,(Amplified Bible, Classic Edition), in my Bible reading. In this verse we find out that one of the reasons that God's people were living a less than life was "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of mind and heart in gratitude for the abundance of all with which He had blessed you." Gratitude is important to God and it's life changing for us. Ann Voskamp, author of the book One Thousand Gifts, writes, "Give thanks if you are joyful is, in reality, to be joyful give thanks." Did you notice in that verse in Deuteronomy how, to God, both our joyfulness and our gratitude are not only important, but connected?
So, how do we become a more grateful, thankful person? How do we make thanksgiving a lifestyle? I've found that one simple habit has been life changing for me in making me a more thankful person. Before Ann Voskamp wrote her book she blogged about her habit of gratitude journaling, of writing down at least three things that she was grateful for each day. She encouraged her blog readers to do the same, and then once a week we would write blog posts filled with our weekly gratitudes and link it up on her website. I began gratitude journaling, due to her encouragement, in 2009 and have been writing down at least three things I am grateful for every day since. I've now journaled well over twelve thousand things I am grateful for in the subsequent years. This simple practice has helped me to see, in the hardest of times and in the best of times, that God is always faithful and there is always something to be thankful for. Thanksgiving has become a habit! It really is that simple. If you want to develop a more thanks filled lifestyle, why not give it a try. All you need is some sort of simple notebook or journal, a pen and a willing heart!
Elizabeth, I have been amazed at how you have continued this practice. I have found you to be most inspiring. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI remember doing this along with Ann Volkscamp as well. I loved her blog. It was so pretty. I have stayed in the habit of being grateful but not in the habit of keeping track. I wish I had written everything down.
ReplyDeleteAfter your posting of her before, I ordered her book. She has such inspiring ways to be grateful and so many tips on being kind and helpful to others. I wrote for a few days, but did not keep the writing, but have mentally remembered to be thankful each day and say thanks to God for even the simple things in my life. Your posting of your gratitude journaling has been inspiring to me, and thought provoking on how to be more thankful. It is a daily practice as you say, and without your post, I would never have known about Ann's book. She also was so sharing with her great printouts on her blog for daily use. ~hugs~ and thanks for your visits and words you share each week. :)
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