Counting Blessings
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
The week before Thanksgiving, my family participates in a tradition we started several years ago. My husband, two young daughters, and I find times during the week to write on slips of paper some of the things we're thankful for. We put the papers in a jar, and on Thanksgiving morning we read them.
"I'm thankful for my friends and my sister," writes my nine-year-old. "Thank you for my cat," says my five-year-old. My husband writes, "I'm thankful for my church family." "I'm thankful for our family's health" is one of the messages I write. We read about more and more of our blessings: good food, books, living in a free country, football, missionaries, a warm home.
The Bible tells us to be joyful and thankful at all times and in all circumstances. We can be especially thankful for God's greatest blessing: the amazing grace we see in Jesus Christ. Any time of the year is a perfect time to express our thanks for Christ.
PRAYER...
Dear God, thank you for all the blessings you have given us. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...
Count your blessings today.
PRAYER FOCUS...
Gratitude for my blessings