My oldest daughter is a logophile – someone who loves words. Every day, before I begin work, she opens a tab on my computer for Dictionary.com for the “word of the day.”
Today’s word? Thanksgiver. The definition, according to Dictionary.com is a person who gives thanks.
We remember to be thankful on Thanksgiving. But in truth, we should express gratitude several times a day, every day of the year.
Below are a few of the many reasons to express our gratitude to a faithful God who has blessed us beyond measure.
- He is deserving of our praise.
- He tells us to “…give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18a). Not always easy in those times of trial that we all experience. But His grace and mercy sees us through even the worst of times.
- He gave us eternal life. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).
- When we have a grateful heart, we are less apt to complain or look dismally at our circumstances, no matter how bleak they may seem.
- It reminds us how dependent we are on Him.
- His love endures forever (Psalm 136:1).
- It is a way to express worship to our Creator.
- A grateful heart comes humbly before the Lord and realizes all that He has done.
- Gratitude reminds us of how much we have, not how much we lack.
One of the ways I have found to be especially important in showing thankfulness is by staring a gratitude journal.
At the end of each day, list the things you are grateful for in a notebook or journal. It’s humbling and amazing the things we forget that the Lord has done.
How often do I thank the Lord for His many blessings? The gift of His Son? Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross? That He chose me to be His? For food on the table? Good health for my family and me? His protection? My husband’s job?
Speaking of His protection, how many times does God protect us and we don’t even realize it? The car accident that could have happened. The illness we avoided. The lurking, unseen dangers that He has saved us from. By His grace, we emerged unscathed from potential dangers we never even gave thought to.
Not only today, but everyday, be a thanksgiver. Come before the Throne with humility, thanksgiving, and praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
How do you express your gratitude to the Lord?
Before you go, check out the following posts:
Penny Zeller 
4 thoughts on “the importance of gratitude”