#30DaysofPraise

The even greater reason for enjoying November in the States stems from the fact that this is Thanksgiving month. Of all the holidays, I often say that this is in my trio of favorites: Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. The history and meaning of Thanksgiving goes as far back as the Pilgrims in terms of a holiday. Yet, as a Christian, the opportunity to focus specifically on gratitude goes as far back as the Bible. Christmas and Easter celebrate the foundation for our ultimate gratitude; however, what a fantastic joy to use Thanksgiving as a reason to focus on a month of gratitude.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the importance of gratitude:

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Live as a content person!

We receive the challenge to live as those who do not love money but to instead be content. In a world where we undergo targeted marketing in every aspect of living, contentment, at times, is a battle. The message of people and businesses all around us help our easily-distracted hearts to want even more stuff. Of course the stuff may not be an issue of money at all! The stuff of discontentment ranges from feelings to relationships to disappointments to all the things that is for sale at Target, Walmart, and Bass Pro (you can add your favorite here as well). There may not be one single item on our wish list that can be purchased at the store, yet we still can easily suffer with a discontented heart.

The author of Hebrews challenges us to simply be content with what we have. Accept what God graciously gives us in life as our portion and be grateful for it.

Is this easy? Of course not. The proof that contentment is hard comes from the Garden of Eden. In a perfect world in every way, with perfect relationships between husband and wife and with God, Adam and Eve still fell for the marketing scheme of the serpent. They allowed themselves to be convinced there was a good reason to be discontent. As they looked at the fruit, they determined that “Life would be better if…” as we do so many times.

Just like discontentment was not God’s plan in the Garden of Eden, today is no different. God challenges you to be content.

God is with you!

Notice how the writer of Hebrews anchors your contentment in the very presence of God. What a great perspective!

God is with you! He never leaves you or forsakes you. God walks with you always. You never leave His presence.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the ultimate reason for contentment. God is near and is with us. He cares and loves us. God is our portion.

Since God never lies and we can trust Him, we can live as content people regardless of what we have or do not have. Although it may be nice to get what we want, we recognize that we absolutely need nothing in order to be content. God is enough.

Of course it is not sinful to want something or be concerned over something as long as those things for which we ask stay confined to a lesser status than our greater contentment in Christ. In Christ we find our greatest contentment (Phil 4:11-13).

Use November as a Month to Emphasize Gratitude in Your Life

Let’s have fun this November together! Make this month a time of gratitude. At least make a list of 30 reasons for which you can be grateful.

Plus, there are many ways that you can both express and encourage gratitude in you and those around you.

• You could make your own “Gratitude Cards” using one of many different online options.
• Possibly you could share one thing per day for which you are grateful. I know that I have a bunch like Jesus Christ, the Gospel, Family, Church Family, Special Friends, so many other friends, and the list could go on and on. Maybe you could share one of those per day. You’ll find out quickly you will need more than just 30 days. A good idea is to list them and then slowly work through your list, adding one each day to social media.
• You could share your favorite Hymns or Songs of Thanksgiving, Praise, and Gratitude.
• Pick a name of God and its meaning each day to celebrate Who God is and what God does.
• Pick a person each day. Share what you appreciate about this individual in your life.
• Send a note each day to someone or a text or reach out in some other way to simply tell them “Thank you” and show your appreciation.
• You can always share the #30DaysofPraise Bible picture cards that are attached below.

Intentionality

At the end of the day and month, the goal is intentional praise. When you choose intentional praise, you infuse hope, light, goodness, and worship into your life. Even when days are long or hard, intentionality breaks through the noise in one sense and the silence in another to help your soul worship our Great God.

The reality is this: you do not need to do anything on social media as long as you are intentionally taking time out of your day to be grateful and encouraging others around you with your gratitude.

Just choose something. Be intentional. Lead your heart toward greater worship with intentional gratitude.