Being grateful daily is no easy task. With all the depressing news flooding our minds every day, it is easy to get discouraged and negative. The devil loves to cause us to think doom and gloom 24/7 because it diverts our minds from God and all He has done and is doing for us. How can we be grateful daily in this chaotic world?
1. Wake up thankful
This seems pretty straightforward. Start the day off with a thankful spirit. If you wake up praising God and thinking about your blessings then you will be starting the day off the right way.
2. Think of 3 things to be thankful for
During the day, think of at least 3 things to be thankful for. When you have a bad moment, or something happens that might cause you to get upset, pause and think about something that is a blessing or something good that has happened. Also remember, there is always going to be someone better and someone worse than you, either physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, etc. We should not compare ourselves with others, instead focus on your own blessings, then you will find a sense of satisfaction and contentment that is only found by those who are truly grateful.
3. Remember this is not our home
Always remember that the earth is not our home, it is a stop on our journey, but not the destination. We know that this world is filled with heartache, suffering, pain, tears, grief, but these will all pass away one day and we will be in glory where no more tears will fill our eyes, no more pain will hurt us, no more sorrow or heartache, only perfect peace. When the day is tough, and you feel down, remember what we have to look forward to. Just as our bodies feel the warmth of the sun, let your soul feel the warmth of God's love.
4. Sing
We are told to praise God all day every day. Praise has several parts to it, but one part is singing or playing an instrument. God loves it when we sing praises to Him when we truly worship Him for who He is and when we are grateful for all He does. Tone-deaf? Can't play an instrument? It doesn't matter, God loves a heart that is truly grateful and that is pure, sing out and sing out proudly. Even listening to hymns or inspirational songs will lift your spirit and help your mind focus on the right things.
5. Tell others
Share your blessings with others. Share the Good News with others. When you share your heart, your joy, your gratefulness with others it helps you overflow with thanksgiving and joy and helps those around you see the light of Jesus. This also encourages others who are facing hard times and sharing your story/testimony with them will help them see the light at the end of the tunnel. God gives us hardships to go through not only to grow and learn (our preparation season) but also to be able to help others and relate to those who are going or have gone through the same thing.
Let's be thankful daily for the many blessings God pours on us, even ones we forget about like clothing, food, shelter, health, family, friends, freedom, and salvation. God sees you, He is always with you, He only has your best interest at heart, He cares for you, He loves you, He is your Provider, Father, Friend, Husband.