The Greatest Gift

Living a life of thanksgiving means having a heart that is sensitive to God’s presence in our everyday lives.

During this Thanksgiving week, take some time each day to thank God for who He is and for something He has done for you. You can thank Him always for everything—great or small—but being specific about something each day that is especially meaningful to you will have a lasting impact on you.

For example, it can be as simple as, “Father, thank You for helping me make good decisions today,” or “Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to save me.” Take a moment to do this silently in your heart or voice your thankfulness out loud.

Not only does God love it when we thank Him, it’ll make you feel better and change your outlook on everything from the kind of day you’re having to how you see your relationships. Start by making a list of what you’re thankful for…see how long you can make it. Maybe even take some time to write down the reasons you are thankful for the people you’ll be with this week and then share it with them.

But don’t let it stop after that. Extend your gratitude toward others by recognizing when someone does something nice for you, and let them know that you appreciate it. And showing appreciation to your family members is a good place to start. Expressing appreciation is not only good for the other person, but it is good for us!

So remember, Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be just one day on a calendar—we can live with gratitude every day. In fact, Psalm 34:1 (ESV) says, I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Thanksgiving can be a part of who we are deep down in our hearts, a simple reminder of all God has given us and all He continues to do!

And as the holiday season continues into Advent, and your attention shifts to Christmas activities, you can continue to live each day filled with thankfulness!