On this final day in November, many people have taken the past 30 days or at least times within these past days to be grateful. Of course last week was Thanksgiving where most of us took the day to celebrate with family and friends those things for which we were grateful. Some have posted lists of things for which they are grateful on social media. November is the month that we typically celebrate gratitude above all other months.
Many of us in light of 2020 actually wrestle to come up with a definitive list of things for which we are grateful. COVID-19, politics, and loneliness may rob many of us of a spirit of gratitude this year.
I want to strongly encourage you on this first day of a new work week and the last day of November to persevere in gratitude all year long.
Gratitude as a Way of Living
The Apostle Paul described what life should be like when you walk in the Spirit as a follower of Christ. He wrote:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:15-21)
Notice Paul gives us the command to walk in the Spirit. He challenges us to live in constant awareness of God’s presence and an awareness of what God’s Word says to us. In another passage it describes this same thing as “let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly in all things” (Col 3:15). When we do those two things (have a God-consciousness and an awareness of the Word of God that dwells within us), we then walk in the Spirit. As we walk in the Spirit, there are specific results; one of which is “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Giving Thanks.
Always.
For all things.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the result of walking in the Spirit.
What’s Next?
Now go and practice. Keep a gratitude journal. Begin by trying to be grateful for five independent things per day. Begin somewhere. Pick a particular area of your life and list five things there. Move to a different area every day. As you go, keep adding new things in your journal. Regularly review what you have already written and add more to it.
What’s the goal? Regular gratitude. Seek to take the gratitude from November and express it all year long.
May God richly bless your week as you strive to give thanks always for all things in the name of Christ.
Image Credit Gabrielle Henderson
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together