Oops! I caught myself complaining! I want to be joyful always and give thanks in all circumstances. What can I do?
Wake Up with a Thankful Heart
Each morning before you climb out of bed, start the day with thanking the Lord for His blessing. I usually wake up and say, "Good morning, Lord, I love you! Thank-You for ..."
This starts my day off on the right food. I am now grateful, instead of grumpy. It also reminds me how truly good God is to me.
Focus on the Blessings, Not the Needs
"Focus on what you do have, not on what you don't have," my grandmother reminded me again and again. It is easy to want things and always there are needs. We might want a new car or need a new winter coat. Either way, I have found that it is better for me to focus on what I have, rather than what I want to have.
God always comes through to meet my needs. Just a few weeks ago, I was praying for money to cover extra graduation expenses because our finances are pretty tight. I received an unexpected honorarium that covered all the expenses! I couldn't believe it! Then, I realized, "Of course, God came through! He always does!" One more reason to thank Him and one more thing blessing to focus on.
Play the Glad Game
Wake Up with a Thankful Heart
Each morning before you climb out of bed, start the day with thanking the Lord for His blessing. I usually wake up and say, "Good morning, Lord, I love you! Thank-You for ..."
This starts my day off on the right food. I am now grateful, instead of grumpy. It also reminds me how truly good God is to me.
Focus on the Blessings, Not the Needs
"Focus on what you do have, not on what you don't have," my grandmother reminded me again and again. It is easy to want things and always there are needs. We might want a new car or need a new winter coat. Either way, I have found that it is better for me to focus on what I have, rather than what I want to have.
God always comes through to meet my needs. Just a few weeks ago, I was praying for money to cover extra graduation expenses because our finances are pretty tight. I received an unexpected honorarium that covered all the expenses! I couldn't believe it! Then, I realized, "Of course, God came through! He always does!" One more reason to thank Him and one more thing blessing to focus on.
Play the Glad Game
Just like Pollyanna, you can play the Glad Game. Pollyanna, an orphan who is sent to live with her aunt Polly, in Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter, plays the Glad Game. The glad game is based on a simple premise: there is always a bright side to every bad situation. When a care package arrives to her missionary family and she is hoping for a doll, but instead she finds only crutches, she is glad that she doesn't have to use them.
When I am struggling to lose weight, I'm glad I'm not hungry. When I am washing piles of laundry, I'm glad I have a family to wash for. When I have fifteen phone calls to return, I am glad I have friends who want to talk to me.
Express Gratitude to Others
Go out of your way to show appreciation for everything people do for you! Of course, you have to start by noticing what others do. This is another great lesson in focusing on the positive. God surrounds us with people who serve us, show kindness, and work hard on our behalf. To notice and thank these people doesn't just bless them, it changes us from the inside out. You see, where our treasure is, there will be our love and affection. When we invest in people by thanking them for what they do, our affection for them increases. Loving people always feels good!
Sing! Sing! Sing!
Music makes our heart sing! There is just so much that cannot be expressed in the spoken word, it must be sung. God's goodness and gratitude for His blessings is something to sing about! And thanking the Lord in a song leads to worship, the very thing we were created for and the very thing we will spend eternity doing. So, count your blessings and sing a song to our Heavenly Father! Sing for joy!
When I am struggling to lose weight, I'm glad I'm not hungry. When I am washing piles of laundry, I'm glad I have a family to wash for. When I have fifteen phone calls to return, I am glad I have friends who want to talk to me.
Express Gratitude to Others
Go out of your way to show appreciation for everything people do for you! Of course, you have to start by noticing what others do. This is another great lesson in focusing on the positive. God surrounds us with people who serve us, show kindness, and work hard on our behalf. To notice and thank these people doesn't just bless them, it changes us from the inside out. You see, where our treasure is, there will be our love and affection. When we invest in people by thanking them for what they do, our affection for them increases. Loving people always feels good!
Sing! Sing! Sing!
Music makes our heart sing! There is just so much that cannot be expressed in the spoken word, it must be sung. God's goodness and gratitude for His blessings is something to sing about! And thanking the Lord in a song leads to worship, the very thing we were created for and the very thing we will spend eternity doing. So, count your blessings and sing a song to our Heavenly Father! Sing for joy!
If you are interested in growing in gratefulness this holiday season, I encourage you to purchase Celebrate Thanksgiving where you will not only learn the entire story of the Pilgrims, but you will read devotions, prayers, Scriptures, and poems that will inspire you. This book has everything you need to make your holiday Christ-centered and meaningful with recipes, crafts, and celebrations to try out in your own home.
What a glorious reason to celebrate Thanksgiving is! How wonderful to set aside time to give thanks to Almighty God who has blessed us with so many incredible gifts. My print copy of Celebrate Thanksgiving is available at Amazon and the E-book can be purchased on my website, Powerlineprod.com.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
What a glorious reason to celebrate Thanksgiving is! How wonderful to set aside time to give thanks to Almighty God who has blessed us with so many incredible gifts. My print copy of Celebrate Thanksgiving is available at Amazon and the E-book can be purchased on my website, Powerlineprod.com.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
RSS Feed
