There’s so much to be thankful for this season! But if you’re like me, the holiday season tends to creep up without too much warning. It was summer, the last thing I remember, and now all of a sudden, it’s Thanksgiving! Have you taken a moment or two to think about what you’re thankful for? If you’ve been more occupied with grocery shopping, trip planning, or cramming all your work into a three-day workweek, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. Here are five resources from my blog that will help you make a few moments for gratitude this week.
How Gratitude Can Change Your Body, Your Mind, and Your Faith
I never used to understand gratitude. Whenever I would hear people talk about it, I’d usually brush it off as a meaningless practice. Of course, it felt nice to think about stuff you were thankful for, but in the busyness of the holidays, it wasn’t something I would carve out time for. That is – until I learned the compelling science behind it. The research on gratitude is actually quite astounding! Our bodies respond to the chemical reactions that gratitude ignites. It can boost your immunity, benefit cardiovascular health, and even minimize anxiety. Check out this post to read more.
5 Verses on Remembrance You Need This Thanksgiving
The Bible frequently speaks about our need to remember God’s faithfulness. That’s one of the benefits of giving thanks. It causes us to look over our past year and remember all the ways His goodness and mercy truly followed us every day. As we look forward into unknowns and tentative plans for the coming year, this remembrance can bolster and reaffirm our faith. If God has provided for us in scary moments before, He can do it again! God encourages remembrance throughout the Old and New Testaments and reminds His people of the truth. If you need a little truth to cling to this year, read this post filled with verses to help you remember.
10 Gratitude Practices to Cultivate Contentment in a Discontent World
This post is filled with ideas if you need practical tips to incorporate gratitude into your life this year! Gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to set aside any massive chunk of time to reap the benefits. This post is filled with simple ways to posture your heart toward contentment and thankfulness even throughout your super busy week. Share these tips with your kids or extended family to practice thanksgiving together. Then, as you come together to feast, you’ve already been thinking about how you’ve been blessed this year. Read this post to put even more tools in your gratitude toolbox!
How the First Thanksgiving Gives Hope to the Person Not in the Mood to Give Thanks
If Thanksgiving is coming around at a bad time this year, and you’ve not been in a thankful mood, this post is for you! There are so many reasons that the first thanksgiving should never have happened. We tell a glamorized tale that’s been airbrushed over the years, but the people around that table had every reason not to give thanks. They had faced so many trials, so much suffering, and so much loss. If you’re not really in the mood to give thanks this year, read this post to see why you aren’t alone. Even the first Thanksgiving feasters might have felt the same.
How to Experience Gratitude When Life Fees Grim
If you’ve had a challenging year and faced more disappointments and trials than you were prepared for, it might feel impossible to be thankful for this holiday. That’s okay. You don’t need to conjure up feelings or make yourself happy. Instead, the Bible gives us truth and encouragement that apply to people in all life situations! The Bible allows space for people who are grieving, lamenting, or even angry at God. If you relate more with them this year, God is with you. He will walk with you even if you can’t find anything to be thankful for. If that’s you, read this post to be reminded of the truths that don’t change even when life feels grim.
Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time to enjoy your family, catch up with old friends, and meditate on the things you are grateful for in your life. In a world filled with so many demands and expenses, gratitude is free. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to sit in the joy and contentment this Thanksgiving and praise God for His goodness in your life. He has been faithful, and He will continue to be faithful. If there’s a specific story or moment from this past year that shows off God’s goodness in your life, would you share it in the comments below? Sharing testimonies of God’s faithfulness with others is another way we can express our gratitude and praise and encourage others in the process. It is my hope that this blog provides you with some of the best resources on my website to take a little time for gratitude this week. Happy Thanksgiving from me to you, dear reader! I will always be thankful for you.
