“3 THINGS YOU’RE THANKFUL FOR”

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Written by Rev. Mark Muckler

SCRIPTURE

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. – Psalm 100:4

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. – Psalm 95:2

Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. – Psalm 51:15

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Many years ago, when I was in my early twenties, I can remember being new in my walk with the Lord and keeping a “Praise Journal”. In it I simply wrote down praises in my life, ways in which I saw God at work either in my own life or in the lives of those close to me. At the time, it was the only journal I kept and all I ever really wrote about. It was pretty awesome then, and as I reflect back upon it, it is pretty awesome today to look back and see how the Lord was active in my life long ago.

Since then, I’ve kept all sorts of journals. I can remember a couple years ago being encouraged by a clergy friend to keep a journal of thanks that reminded me of my praise journal. They encouraged me to write down three things I am thankful for every single day and to commit to the practice for a week.

It made me think of when I was a youth pastor, circling up and asking the youth what they were thankful for. And often times they would simply say, “food, family, and friends,” And I would go around the circle and I would get the same answer, “food, family, and friends.” haha. Great things to be thankful for, absolutely! But imagine if every single day you write down three different things that you are thankful to God for. You can’t write down the same three things each day, they have to be different. Surely there is sooo much more to be thankful for, so much we take for granted. When we pause to be still and to intentionally give God thanks for all things and at all times, such a practice transforms our minds and attitudes into a life of praise, literally.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

How about you? When was the last time that you thought about the myriad of ways the Lord has blessed you? Provided for you? Protected you? Lifted you up? Heard your cries? Answered your prayers? Etc? When was the last time you gave God great thanks for the gift of your salvation? For the forgiveness of your sins? For your family and friends, and friends that have become like family? For the clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and food on the table? For a glorious and wonderous calling upon your life? and so much more?

As we approach Thanksgiving, consider keeping your own praise journal, a thanksgiving journal, a journal where you simply write down three things you are thankful for every single day.

PRAYER

As you enter into prayer, think about the last 24 hours of your life, and all the ways in which the Lord has blessed you. And pause now to give God thanks …

Dear Lord, I give you thanks for ….

(and speak them in the silence of your heart)

May my life be lived with praise and thanksgiving unto You, O Lord. I praise You Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. – AMEN

APPLICATION / RESOURCE

Designate a little journal that you can keep by your bedside, and just before you turn out the light at night, write down three things that you are thankful. Commit to engaging in this simple little practice for one week. And as you do, I trust that your life will begin to sing forth the praises of God.