It’s the season where we are surrounded with reminders to be thankful. Facebook is flooded with posts of gratitude. Clearly, blogs have jumped ont the band wagon and even scripture tells us to be thankful in all things. However, in scripture it’s a lifestyle that takes place all day, all year. It’s not just a season.
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 MSG).
Thankfulness is an everyday practice not jus a seasonal practice. It’s a practice that encompass our everyday life all day long. These words from a recent entry in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young reminded me exactly why. (Read it as if Jesus is talking to you.)
When your mind is occupied with thanking Me, you have no time for worrying or complaining. If you practice thankfulness consistently, negative thought patterns will gradually grow weaker and weaker.
What excites me about God’s instructions is that neuroscience has proven this to be true. We can actually rewire our brains to think positively just by being thankful. All the more reason to practice gratitude year round. As this scripture tells us, let it infuse your world.
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. (Colossians 4:17 MSG).
Maybe if I begin practicing this now and through the holiday season, it will be a habit by the time the new year rolls around. This week in church a woman mentioned that she thanks God for green lights. She has the right attitude for living out these scriptures. An attitude I want to adopt. Whenever I pause to be thankful, the world gets brighter, my troubles get smaller and I see God in the little things. It’s time for me to become intentional in building this habit. Will you join me?
How are you building the habit of thankfulness? How do you make it a part of your entire day? What practices are you putting in place to build a thankful heart all year? Share your thoughts below and we can encourage each other.