Thankfulness: A Spiritual, Emotional Necessity Part 2

  How to Be Grateful
 
I’m not an expert in psychology, but many who are agree that our brains are wired to see problems. 
This could be useful. 
But only sometimes. When dealing with problems is the absolute most important thing to do, it is necessary to not only see the problems but also feel the pain of those problems. 
(Interestingly, when I broke my ankle, I guess because of the shock, it didn’t hurt after the initial seconds. I walked on it. I might not have gone to the doctor if a paramedic in my Jiu-jitsu class hadn’t insisted. The pain would have come later and caused fixing the ankle to be the highest priority.) 
But dealing with problems is not always the most important thing. Fire killing is never an effective way to run a well-lived life. And most of the time, problems can’t be dealt with 24/7.
For instance, I said yesterday that November was one of those months when I worked hard, but had few paydays. 
I can’t do anything about it except assess the situation and act appropriately. 
Assessment: I have a lot of work in the can that will lead to significant paydays in the future. I have a lot of money saved up because, being self-employed, I know income is not steady and I need the cushion. I am taking steps to try to get payment from the client who is trying to avoid me, and I will either get him to pay or I won’t. 
Either way, I have no choice but to keep working. At some point, maybe I will reassess my situation; maybe I will get a “real job,” but we’re not there yet. I’ve been in this exact position many times, and it’s always a little scary. But this is why I’ve saved. 
Okay, cool. I can move on. I don’t need to be fixated on the problem because there is currently nothing different to do. I just keep creating, working, praying, building my business, planting the church, coaching my students, raising the kids, romancing the wife, healing the ankle…repeat….
But sometimes, logic gets beaten down by feelings. What’s God’s solution? Thanksgiving. And with that, Happy Thanksgiving! 
I am beyond thankful that you are reading this right now. Any writer’s greatest concern is that no one would read their stuff. Thank you for your attention! 
But since gratitude doesn’t always come naturally for most, we gotta be intentional. There is nothing like the Thanksgiving holiday to bring that intentionality into focus. 
Life can be messy, and it’s easy to focus on what’s wrong. But the Bible gives us practical ways to cultivate a heart of thankfulness. Since we all love steps (we call these “listicles”), here are three steps to becoming thankful. 
 
1. Start Your Day with Thanksgiving
The Psalmist says, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning and Your faithfulness by night” (Psalm 92:1-2).
Begin each day by acknowledging God’s goodness. Before checking your phone or diving into tasks, take a second to thank God for waking you up, for His love, His provision, and His Son. Starting your day with thanksgiving sets the tone for everything else. You should do this, especially if you don’t feel like it. 
2. Keep a Record of God’s Faithfulness
The Israelites were often instructed to build memorials or write down what God had done (Joshua 4:6-7). Why? Because we’re forgetful. Life can make us lose sight of God’s blessings.
Try keeping a gratitude journal. Write down three things you’re thankful for daily—big or small. When challenges come, look back at your journal and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. It works. 
3. Practice Gratitude in Prayer
Paul encourages us to “pray without ceasing” and to do so “with thanksgiving” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Gratitude transforms our prayer life by shifting the focus from our needs to God’s provision.
In your prayer time, start by thanking God for who He is and what He’s done. 
Instead of responding immediately to requests, take a moment to reflect on God’s goodness toward you and your family. 
Peace comes when we start with thankfulness. Thanksgiving is a discipline, not just a feeling. 
So Happy Thanksgiving! I pray that God fills your mind and heart today with the things and people for whom you are grateful!