Several months ago I began to feel that my life was going sour. My attitude, my reactions, my thoughts…everything, like my life was sucking on a lemon. That just isn’t my norm…I’m an optimistic person by creation. As I prayed (okay, in all honesty complained and whined) to God about it, He gently reminded me of Psalm 100:4:

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him and bless His name.

Where I always want to be—inside His gates and in His courts—would only happen as I focused on giving thanks. I made a decision, not out of joyful obedience (yet) but out of desperation. Every night when my head hit the pillow, I would say, “Thank you. I love you, Lord.” I also repeated it every morning when I woke up, before my feet hit the floor.

It took some time…but I found myself adding to those simple phrases specific things I was thankful for. And like refreshing rays of the sun, the thankful mindset began to dawn into my waking hours. When I caught myself complaining about something as mundane as taking the trash out every week, I started turning that complaint around and giving thanks that I had a weekly trash service and the money to pay for it. When I started complaining about cleaning my house or a yard to keep up, I would give thanks that I have a house to live in and health so that I can keep a yard up. You get the picture.

Just as Philippians 3:12 says, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already achieved perfection…” but I am focused on the habit of giving thanks…all day, every day.

With Thanksgiving and the holidays here, it’s a bit easier to focus on “giving thanks.” As followers of Jesus though, thanksgiving is to be our constant mindset, not just a one day a year food frenzy. Thanksgiving should be the attitude of our mind, will and emotions every day.

What is involved in giving thanks? Let me break it down this way:

Testify: Tell about the good things He has done for you or the good things you’re believing He will do.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

Honor: Give Him the respect He deserves for being SO good all the time
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11

Acknowledge: Don’t let opportunities to give thanks pass, instead grab them, no matter how big or small.
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Notice: Pay attention to His goodness all around you.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15

Know: Share what you are thankful for so others will know how good He is.
Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1

Satisfied: don’t focus on what hasn’t happened, what you lack, the struggle you are in; focus instead on what is in your hands…right in front of you.
Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple. Psalm 65:4

As we approach this season of time with family and friends, let this be the year that each of us sets a new tone in our gatherings. Instead of complaining that you have to spend time with Uncle Fred (forgive me Uncle Fred), thank God that you still have an uncle to spend time with and ask for Holy Spirit to lead you to connecting points. Same is true for that office party…those colleagues you have nothing in common with and don’t agree with…thank God you have a job, that they have a job and again ask Holy Spirit for connecting points.

In His courts, you can do anything, including thriving in this season of celebration.

Father, help us to be people who sweeten life with thanksgiving, wherever we are, whatever we are doing. Help us to thank strangers, friends, family and most especially YOU–for the goodness and mercy that follows us all of our lives.

Let’s start right now. “Lord, THANK YOU for loving me, for saving me, for transforming me. Thank you. I love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

New Season community we are thankful for each one of you. For giving, volunteering, praying, serving and for loving each other and Jesus on this journey. We pray that reasons to be thankful will be multiplied in your lives.