Thanksgiving 2022

Once again, the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us and we are busy with the preparations. I trust, this is not the only time when we pause to give thanks, because every day, we can find people and things for which we are grateful. As a start, we have the greatest gift – Jesus – and that’s not all; we have so much more.

Life coaches and therapists tell us that simply keeping a gratitude journal and writing three things in it each morning for which we are thankful can change our outlook. 

If you are feeling down or only see the bad news in the world today, try taking the advice of the hymn writer:

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.*

I can almost guarantee that your list will be long and will lift you up!

Usually, thinking of good things to put on the list comes fairly easily. But, according to the Apostle Paul, counting only our blessings is not enough. He tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Really Paul? ALL circumstances? Yes. Being grateful in the middle of struggle points us to God and reminds us of His promise that He is with us always, “to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NIV). That’s how we can sing …

I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through
For if I’d never had a problem
I wouldn’t know God could solve them
I’d never know what faith in God could do**

As we reflect on our trials, we can see how God has been with us, has brought us through, and has grown our faith. Is our desire to know God more? That’s certainly Jesus’ desire for us – to go deeper in our relationship with Him. One of the ways to do that is to be thankful for all that He has done for us.

What are you grateful for this year?

From Shelley Ministries to you, Happy Thanksgiving!

*Count Your Blessings, Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1879. ** Through It All, Andre Crouch, 1971

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