"Remembering God in Gratitude"

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy Of: Gabrielle Henderson

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 

~1 Thessalonians 5:18

As we quickly approach Thanksgiving, I wanted to share with you a quote I read recently that I was really inspired by. Henri Nouwen once wrote, “Perhaps nothing helps us make the movement from our little selves to a larger world than remembering God in gratitude. Such a perspective puts God in view in all of life, not just the moments we set aside for worship or spiritual disciplines. Not just in the moments when life seems easy.”

I love this quote because I don’t know about you, but it serves as the reminder I often need. Do I realize God is everywhere and accessible always?

Sometimes we busy women (perhaps especially during the holiday season!) lament our struggle to find time for the perfect “quiet time” because we have subconsciously bought into the myth that God is only to be found when you are in your comfy chair communing with Him in prayer and reading His Word.

But this is simply not true.

He is with you as you do dishes.

He is with you as you discipline your children.

He is with you as you go on a date with your husband.

He is with you on the commute into work.

He is with you as you check the mail, pay the bill, clean the house, and run the errand.

Understanding this completely does away with any notion of life being “mundane” - there is nothing dull or seemingly unimportant about life when viewed through the realization that God is with us always, everywhere, forever.

You can hear from Him as you walk the dog.

You can pray to Him as you shower.

You can hear His Word read aloud while you cook dinner.

Because the truth of the matter is that the Christian life was never meant to be relegated down to church attendance on Sunday and Bible study for 10 minutes in the morning.

The Christian walk was meant to consume your every moment of your every day - walking by faith, praying to the Father, loving others in His name, taking captive every thought and opinion you ever have, meditating on His Word in true Deuteronomy 6:6-7 style. That kind of moment-by-moment intimacy with the Lord is what will then bring into your life the joy that is your strength and the peace which passes all understanding!

So, friend, don’t relegate your interactions with the Lord to the early morning moments in your armchair or to an hour on Sunday morning. He has so much more for you than just that!

Reflection Questions:

1) In what seemingly mundane areas of your life right now are you actually seeing the Lord show up?

2) In what areas do you want or need Him to show up? Pray that He will! That's a prayer He really loves to answer.

3) How can you take this understanding that the Lord is everywhere always into your Thanksgivig preparations? How can you allow it to lower your stress and increase your gratitude?