Practicing Gratitude (Emily Davis)

We are in the month of November, and everyone knows what that means: our focus begins to shift toward gratitude. In fact, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is all about gathering with the people you love, enjoying good food, and taking time to sit in gratitude. (Or at least, that's what it's meant to be!)

Although gratitude is something we talk about often this time of year, actually slowing down and practicing it can be difficult. We are busy. We live fast-paced lives. We desire instant gratification, and we are already looking forward to all the deals coming with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We often forget to pause and recognize the goodness around us because we are too busy running from one thing to the next.

But thankfully, I have good news for you: gratitude can be practiced whether we are running to the next thing or sitting in stillness. It doesn't require a perfect day, a quiet moment, or a particular set of circumstances. It simply requires a heart that is willing to recognize and appreciate God's goodness.

Did you know that gratitude means being ready to show appreciation? According to its definition, gratitude is the state of being grateful and the readiness to show appreciation for the good things, kindness, or benefits one receives.

So, the question is: Are you living in a constant state of being ready to show appreciation?

As we walk through this life, it is so easy to focus on the negative. I actually told someone the other day that it would be so easy to live in fear rather than in abundance and joy during this season. It's easy to allow anger, discouragement, anxiety, and the weight of our circumstances to consume us. But as followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to live with grateful hearts.

Let's look at what Scripture tells us about gratitude:

• Psalm 100:4 tells us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We are invited into His presence with grateful hearts.

• 1 Chronicles 16:34 reminds us to give thanks to the Lord because He is good and His steadfast love endures forever.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus.

• Philippians 4:6 encourages us not to be anxious but to bring everything to God through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.

• Colossians 3:15 calls us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and to be thankful.

In each of these passages, we see a common thread: we are called to give thanks in every situation and circumstance. We don't give thanks because everything around us is good or because life is always going according to plan. We give thanks because God is good, His Word is true, and His goodness remains constant regardless of what our circumstances look like.

Our lives are full of goodness, kindness, and blessings. Sometimes, it can be difficult to see them, especially when we are walking through seasons of hardship. But sometimes, we also overlook the very things we have become accustomed to: the goodness of breath in our lungs, the gift of another day, the forgiveness of our sins, and the promise of eternal salvation.

Gratitude shifts our perspective. It doesn't mean we ignore the hard things, pretend everything is okay, or dismiss the pain we may be experiencing. Instead, it reminds us to look for God's goodness even in the middle of what is difficult.

So, how can we become more intentional about practicing gratitude in our everyday lives?

Here are some simple and practical ways to practice gratitude:

• Go on a gratitude or prayer walk. Take time to notice God's creation and thank Him for what you see.

• Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Keep a running list in your journal or the notes app on your phone.

• Create an answered prayer list. Write down the prayers God has answered so you can look back and remember His faithfulness.

• Practice gratitude as a family. Before bed, have everyone share one thing they are thankful for that day.

• Start your prayers with thanksgiving. Before bringing your requests to God, spend time thanking Him for who He is and what He has done.

• Memorize Scripture about gratitude. Keep God's Word at the forefront of your heart and mind.

• Make a thankful jar. Write down things you are grateful for on small pieces of paper and add them to a jar throughout the month.

• Encourage someone through a text. Reach out to someone and tell them why you are thankful for them.

• Create a gratitude list on your mirror. Place reminders of God's goodness somewhere you will see them every day.

These are just a few simple ways we can begin cultivating a heart of gratitude. Remember, gratitude isn't something we should only practice in November. It is something we are called to carry with us throughout every season of life.

Whether you are walking through a season of abundance or a season of heartache, there is always an opportunity to recognize the goodness of God. We may not always understand what He is doing, and we may not always feel thankful for our circumstances, but we can always be thankful for who He is. Let's not allow the busyness of this season to distract us from the goodness of the One who gives us every good thing.