Remaining Grateful, No Matter What!

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I want us to take a moment to reflect on the things that we are most grateful for. It could be a huge accomplishment that you’ve made within the year, being thankful for wonderful family & friends, or having a roof over your head. Whatever it is, taking the time to be grateful is a powerful and effective way to remain happy.

Lately, I’ve taken the time to be grateful for the little things in life. For me, there is nothing better than having a home-cooked meal with my family at the end of a busy week. It’s something that I always look forward to and am extremely grateful for. Taking the time to thank the Lord for the little things in my life has been a way for me to become happier as a person. When we take the time to reflect on all that God has done for us, it gives less room for the enemy to magnify our faults and our weaknesses and use them against us. Being thankful is a powerful weapon!

As we enter into the holiday season and eventually into a new year, let us not forget to reflect on what the Lord has done for us in 2022. If we want to reap an abundant harvest, we must remain grateful for what has already been done for us. Doing this can allow God to continue to bless us with exceedingly, abundantly, more than we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20, New King James Version). As we are thankful, we also know that this is the will of God as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

One effective and practical way to remain thankful is by writing down what you are grateful for. It can be little things or big accomplishments. I’ve found writing these out every day for about 5 minutes to be very effective. As I start to list what I am grateful for, I feel my burdens and cares begin to lift off of my shoulders. Doing this shows me that I have so much more to be grateful for than I knew!

Philippians 4:12 is a great reminder of what it looks like to be thankful. Paul writes: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Paul reminds us of the power of being content, regardless of the circumstances. It is so powerful to say that no matter what I am going through, I WILL find something to be grateful for. How powerful! When we have this mindset, we know that we can win every time!