Thank God

Romans 1:18-23 teaches us that when we suppress the truth, we stop thanking God.  In other words, we become ungrateful.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 echoes this sentiment, encouraging us to give thanks in all circumstances.

As we become ungrateful, we lose a ton of benefits, including:

• Stronger, healthier relationships
• Improved sleep quality and quantity
• Fewer body aches and pains
• Lower levels of stress
• Fewer toxic emotions and negative thoughts
• Higher self-esteem and resilience
• An air that tends to make other people happy
• A stronger immune system
• Lower blood pressure
• More alertness, liveliness, and wakefulness
• More joy, optimism, happiness, and pleasure
• More helpfulness, generosity, and compassion
• More forgiveness
• Less loneliness and isolation
• The ability to attract and retain great employees

This year was filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and a ton of adjustments.  It would be easy to enter Thanksgiving filled with ingratitude.  However, there are always reasons to thank God.  Give God thanks for:

• Our salvation (2 Corinthians 9:15)
• His continued presence in our lives (Philippians 4:4-7)
• What He has given us
• The people in our lives (i.e. family, friends, neighbors, church, etc.)
• The fact that the promises God has made will happen through trials (James 1:2-3, Daniel 6:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 1:12)
• His forgiveness
• That He turns all circumstances for good

May this Thanksgiving be a time where the discipline of gratitude shifts how you view any circumstances in life, including the anxieties and uncertainties that come.

Chew on This:

• What would your life be like if you knew you could find things to be grateful for even in the worst circumstance?