What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for?
These are the words my children and I sing each night at bedtime. We all share our thankfuls – three each. Sometimes more. I want to teach my boys the importance of a having a grateful heart in all seasons of life. Because when you can be grateful even during the hardest of times, you can experience God’s peace and contentment all the time.
In Philippians 4, Paul writes a letter from prison to the church in Philippi. He shares his love and gratitude with them and a reminder to persevere in their faith.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
Talk about contentment and joy! Paul is rejoicing in the Lord, even from prison! I love in verse 6 when he writes, “…in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” In EVERY situation… whether living in plenty or in want, we can go to our Lord in prayer, petition, and THANKSGIVING. Because even in seasons of want, we still have so much to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving, Friends. Won’t you pray with me?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for walking alongside us in every season of life.
Thank you for the peace and contentment that you share even in hard or busy times.
I pray that you would help me to model to my children what a grateful heart truly looks like.
I pray that you would teach me to have wisdom and contentment and peace, regardless of the situation that I’m in.
I pray that You would grow a spirit of thankfulness within my children and continue to build a desire to seek you within their hearts.
Today I’m thankful for so many things...
- I’m thankful for our neighbors – for their thoughtfulness and friendship.
- I’m thankful for warm weather – for my children and I to enjoy time outside in your creation.
- I’m thankful for our family – near and far, their support and love is a blessing.
Thank you for this special holiday our family gets to celebrate together.
Amen.