Gratitude has power.
The power to change our outlook from one of scarcity to abundance. The power to humble us as we come to realize all that we do have. And the power to unleash generosity as we consider how we can share what we’ve been blessed with to bless and strengthen others.
Christianity is a faith of gratitude. The Bible regularly calls us to ‘be thankful’ and ‘give thanks’. The Psalmists are constantly erupting with lyrical outbursts of thankfulness (see Ps 30:11-12; 75:1; 92:1; 100:4; 105:1). In his letters to the churches, Paul is always insisting Christians learn to be thankful in all circumstances (see Phil 4:6, Col 3:15-16, 1 Thes 5:18).
The Gospel by its very nature awakens gratitude within our souls. The grace of God – His unmerited favour so generously lavished on us through Jesus Christ – declares that before anything else we are loved and delighted in by the Creator of the universe. This is what the redemptive work of the cross proclaims.
Thanksgiving is an opportunity to reflect on God’s faithfulness, give thanks, and express gratitude. But do we really do this? I mean… more than just a surface level acknowledgement and quick prayer?
Gratitude is about pausing and reflecting. Our minds and hearts need space to think and feel – to intentionally meditate upon and emotionally sense God’s person and provision. The practice of gratitude sets the table for us to delight in and feast upon the goodness of who God is and His gracious hand constantly at work in our lives.
Here are three practical ways you can intentionally practice gratitude:
1. Make a ‘Gratitude List’
Take some time this week leading up to Thanksgiving to quietly reflect and write down all that you are thankful for – people in your life, opportunities you’ve had, lessons you’ve learned, privileges you enjoy, provision for your needs. You may be surprised how long your list ends up being. Then pray through the list and give thanks to God for all of it. Your heart will be full when you are done.
2. Make gratitude a habit
As great as making a list is, gratitude should not be reduced to a once-a-year practice around a holiday. It can and should be a rhythm of life – a discipline or habit. Gratitude as a habit develops a heart posture within us. When we consider all the good things in our lives we start to be humbled away from feelings of entitlement and discontent. We realize that we already have enough. This restores perspective and shifts our focus.
If you aren’t already doing it, I encourage you to introduce a time of focused thanksgiving into your quiet time and prayer practice. Take time to specifically give thanks to God for His grace, love, and presence in the midst of the everyday aspects of your life. I recommend starting your prayer time this way. You’ll be amazed how this begins to shape and change your prayer requests when you get to them. You may even want to start a gratitude journal to write in daily as part of your quiet time.
3. Express your gratitude in generous ways
Gratitude is not only something to be felt, but also expressed. That’s why the Bible is always saying give thanks. Gratitude should lead to action. So, as you begin to feel thankful, take time to consider how you can act out and express your gratitude. Who in your life can you thank and show gratitude towards? Some ideas could include writing a thank you card, giving flowers or a gift, hosting them for a meal, buying a co-worker a coffee. At the end of the day, gratitude should always give birth to generosity. And don’t hesitate to be lavish in your generosity. God certainly didn’t.
May this Thanksgiving be one filled with gratitude felt and expressed.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Mark Kitzman
Director, External Relations
SAT-7 Canada
