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Living With An Attitude Of Gratitude

Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday

Macy Shelton
May 30, 2016
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
55
Living With An Attitude Of Gratitude
Magic4Walls

Thanksgiving should not just be a holiday in November. Thanksgiving should be all year long! Specifically, I mean we should make a point to remember to give thanks all year, but I sure wouldn't mind eating the food all year too. When we have an attitude of thankfulness, fear and doubt grow dim in the light of God's goodness.

You don't always need to wait until something joyful happens to be grateful. Having an attitude of gratitude is what we choose to get us to those joyful times. Practice giving thanks to God throughout your day for the smallest of things and the biggest of things. Give thanks for things you often overlook, such as being able to walk, having the privilege to get an education, being able to drive a car, freedom to worship publicly and having food on the table. Give thanks for the good and the bad. You'll be surprised how an attitude of gratitude will positively impact your day. Stress and worry will pale in comparison to all the things you are thanking God for. When you are actively looking for things to be thankful for, you no longer have time to be worried or have a negative outlook. Look for inspiration in His word.

"Do not fret or worry...it's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Phil 4:6 MSG

"Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude." Col. 4:2 MSG

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5:20

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

God doesn't need our praise or approval. Giving thanks simply brings us closer to Him and allows us to focus on Him rather than ourselves. As a result, we will begin to notice the small gifts of every day that are often overlooked, we will learn to hear His voice loud and clear, and acknowledge that we can't do anything without Him. Start today intentionally being thankful. It's not too late to find rest in today by choosing to have a thankful heart. No regret of the past or fear of the future is worth stealing today's joy. You can't change yesterday and you can't control the future, but you can change the present by having an attitude of gratitude.

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