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How to Give Thanks
Have you ever found yourself in a pothole of discouragement or disappointment, wondering how to give thanks when you don’t feel like it?
A few Susie Sunshines fill my world. They smile and offer an upbeat attitude to every pitch and unexpected curve ball thrown at them. And gosh, I sometimes wish that were me–especially when disappointment or discouragement hits.
But it’s not.
God made you to be you. And He made me to be me, and goodness, we are works in progress. And His strength? It casts sunshine on our gray.
But whether we journey with it or Jesus makes a daily difference.
God hasn’t called us to offer discouraging remarks or disappointing reports. He has called us to sit, stand, and walk with thanksgiving, even in tough circumstances.
Sounds easy. Check. Reality, however, assures a battle of God-sized proportions, so why not battle with His strength?
Not long ago, I faced a ripple of disappointment. Soon after, a huge, old wave of discouragement hit. Truth be told, those are the times when I feel weak, lackluster, embarrassed, even “less than.” I consider pulling into my shell, shying away from the solution and straight into the pity of my problem.
It’s a battle, and who wants to broadcast it to the world that we’re struggling? I’ve learned, however, that pulling the covers off darkness is the best way to begin the battle against it. And often, that means allowing others to come alongside us in prayer and support.
So I pulled off those covers and shared the struggle with a circle of girlfriends. They stood alongside me with encouragement and prayer. Even more so, God surrounded us with His victory.
That’s our Father.
God grants us victory with and through His strength.
I’m convinced thanksgiving is one of those strong devices the Lord offers for overcoming disappointment and discouragement. Amid my bout, He offered a new glimpse on how to give thanksgiving when the “feels” simply remain absent.
Give Thanks Backward
Huh?
Backward thanks.
When we look backward, we find thankfulness.
What one thing, person, or circumstance from yesterday are you thankful for?
Then repeat it tomorrow.
And the next day. And the next day. And the next.
It works.
Why Give Thanks Backward
There’s always something to thank God for. (Gosh, that sounds like something our moms would say to us, doesn’t it?!)
So today, my friend, I encourage you to grab yesterday’s opportunity for thanks. Set it as an offering to God, allowing thanks to glorify Him and grow you.
Wiggle past that disappointment and discouragement attempting to wrestle you to the ground, and pick up the provision of God. I’m right there with you, wiggling, too.
Action Steps for Giving Thanks:
I started giving thanks backward recently. The Lord used those thank offerings to help me step up and out of the wave of discouragement. Will you join me, putting action behind the unction?
However we handle it, God instilled in us the ability to simply give thanks…even when we don’t feel like it. And goodness, it proves wonders for a girl’s heart.
Thanksgiving
I’m thankful for you, reader. Make certain to visit the Subscriber-Only Library (password is in your latest “3” Connection Newsletter, in case you’ve forgotten) for a free “thanks” download.
I thank my God for you.
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Worst Parent in the World?
Ever feel like the worst parent in the world? It happens. Parenting is hard work, isn’t it?! Check out this Crosswalk piece for encouragement in the parenting journey, for times when you feel like the worst parent in the world.
Free Summit Starts Today
Join 27 Christian leaders as they share their stories of finding calm in the chaos November 13-15 at the His Girls Gather Summit! Register for your FREE ticket HERE today.
Can we keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive all year? Possibly… Read on.
“Keep Daddy safe.” My son prayed the prayer with vigilance.
Day after day, week after week, and month after month he fashioned and offered it. His little two-year-old lips sought the face of his heavenly Father for the safety of his earthly father.
The prayer was answered in precisely the way my son hoped. Eight months after his departure, my husband arrived home safely. But what happened next caught me by surprise.
Shortly after my husband’s homecoming, we sat at the dinner table, our heads bowed in prayer. When my son’s turn came to offer his petition, I fully expected to hear the familiar prayer. After all, he was only two years old. But that’s not what happened.
“Thank you, God, for keeping Daddy safe,” my son offered. His gentle words rang with sincerity.
Without coaching, Caleb turned his prayer into an offering of thanksgiving – straight to God Almighty. And it was beautiful.
Although my ears strained to hear the syllables, it seemed as though a megaphone was pressed directly from my little boy’s mouth straight to my heart. I heard the lesson clearly: don’t forget to offer thanksgiving.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll easily offer a prayer soaked with need to my Father. I’ll offer it in the shower, in the car, at the table, and even via text exchange with a friend. But my son’s beautiful words that day convicted me about another part of communion with our Father: thanksgiving.
It’s easy to offer a prayer, but sometimes vigilance with thanksgiving is forgotten, especially in today’s fast-paced world. I stood convicted.
My little guy’s words were a lesson and a wake-up call. They were a wonderful example of Colossians 4:2 put into action.
This season we’re readying for the Thanksgiving holiday. We’re also in a spiritual season ripe for offering thanks. Here are three ways for us to remain vigilant with thanksgiving throughout the year:
It’s easy to join the hustle and bustle of every day life, even as Christians. Sometimes our busy schedules, even those clad with good works, crowd time away from simply remembering our salvation.
Something powerful happens, however, when we stop and soak in thankfulness for Jesus’ sacrifice and the forever love offered from Above. Imagine a Savior who offered his life even when our sins clouded life’s picture dark. No resentment, no “keeping tabs”, no “hey, this is not my gig”. Jesus simply loved and gave – and continues to do so.
And what about heaven? It’s a part of God’s picture for life, and it’s the place our Father has prepared for us. It’s void of tears and hurts. God’s ultimate destination for us overflows with love and good.
When I consider my awaiting home in heaven, it’s easy to offer an audible, “Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Thank you for heaven. I look forward to life there with you.”
What if we remembered our salvation and gave Jesus thanks each day?
Our God’s creation surrounds us. He deemed it – the animals and sky, the landscape and humans – as very good. All are opportunity for thanksgiving.
Sometimes when I’m driving, I’ll look across the landscape and blurt a bit of gratitude for the view flowing past. After all, who doesn’t like a warm, brilliant sun or the clear blue of an endless sky? There always seems to be something our God created that’s worthy of thanks.
But God’s good creation doesn’t stop with the beautiful landscape. It also includes people – both friend and foe. We have a list of many, ready and waiting for thanksgiving.
What person or thing in God’s creation awaits our acknowledgement today?
3. Review Our Prayer List and Make a New One
Psalm 9:1 encourages a look around at the deeds God has done.
Many of us have prayer lists or regular requests like my little Caleb did. Some are scribbled in a notebook while others are the virtual version. Those lists are ripe, awaiting our review. As we near the end of the year, why not glance over those lists and offer God thanksgiving?
But we don’t have to live in the past only. What about the to-do list for today and upcoming days? What if we added a line or two for vigilance sake? A simple line for thanksgiving could do wonders.
So in this season, as Thanksgiving approaches, grab Colossians 4:2 with might. Stand vigilant with thanksgiving today and beyond.
Mine? It flows. Then it stops, as though someone has turned off the faucet. Nothing. Nada. In fact, I forget. Generous heaps of thanks come to a calm. Dare I say that as a Christian? Dare I admit sometimes I become so self-centered that I forego giving thanks, even forgetting?
Well, I do.
But the flow isn’t dry. God’s still near. There’s hope the current of thanksgiving will run once again, that generosity will, indeed, overflow.
Maybe you’re like me, in need of a yarn-on-the-finger reminder for thanksgiving? With my own strand of yarn in sight, I’m determined to practice an open pipeline of thanksgiving, to live my life in the palm of God’s hand, moved by a flow of generosity. Would you like to come along with me? You’re welcome on the journey.
Memory Verses Full of Thanksgiving
This month’s memory verses for ScriptureBank2015 hinge on the fulcrum of thanks. I’m plastering them on the inside of my heart, hanging wallpaper for all to see. But most important is the One who sees: God.
I’m also plastering thanks on the kitchen wall. let’s throw it wherever it’ll stick, so all will see and give thanks to our great God.
Hubby and I created the chalkboard below several months ago to decorate our “Wall of Praise”. (This post, found on Pinterest, spurred the idea.) This month it’s a Board of Thanksgiving. By month’s end, it’ll overflow with thanks. And if we run out of room? A notebook will do.
One Way to Grow in Thanksgiving:
Offer 1 bit of thanksgiving daily, or a few more if you’re so inclined. If you’re already proficient at offering thanks, why not up the offering? Our goal isn’t really numbers, it’s God. Becoming intimately acquainted with a generous heart that gives thanks–that is our goal. It’s offering our words in worship to God Almighty.
Go ahead. Write it out, put it down. Let God and others know what you’re thankful for. I’d love to hear. Feel free to put your thanks in the comments below or on my Facebook page here.
