The November Gratitude Challenge
On my way to work the other day, I spent some time sorting through some "stuff" going on in my life and in the lives of some people who are pretty special to me. Almost in default mode, I just started asking God for His help and direction. Which is good... But not long into my praying, I realized that I'd rushed right past God's heart and straight for His "candy jar." I had my hands wide open, but I hadn't acknowledged Him or His goodness to me.
God actually gives us instructions on how to approach Him. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:4-5) I'm to start my conversations with my good Father by remembering the things He's done for me, for the plans He has for my future, for all that I've seen Him do in this world. I'm to look back on my day and forward to the day ahead with gratitude for His good works and kindnesses. I'm even supposed to thank Him in the storms of life -- that's when His strength and faithfulness shine brightest!
If you've known me for very long at all, you know that being thankful to God is a very important part of my life (see my post from October 3). And because of that, you can just imagine how crazy I am about the month of November -- an entire month spent purposefully searching out and declaring God's generous and loving gifts! For the past few years, I've shared my gratitude in daily Facebook posts during the month of November, and many of you have joined in -- yay, YOU!
Somehow, I feel like this is the year that the whole "gratitude attitude" needs to go wild! We're in the midst of a hugely contentious election season. The evening news is full to overflowing with racial tensions, the refugee crisis, natural disasters, and other hard things affecting us and our world. And they're all critically important things. But if we focus on the hard and forget the beautiful, our hearts will lose hope, and our souls will become weary and full of despair.
So here's my proposal. Declare November the Month to Remember. Remember our God -- His strength, His sovereignty, His lovingkindness, His mercy, His forgiveness, His grace. And remember His good, sweet, personal gifts to each of us! And then share it! "It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me." (Daniel 4:2) If you're big into Facebook, post daily thoughts on gratitude and what you're thankful for. Challenge yourself to write at least one note a week leading up to Thanksgiving to thank someone for the ways he or she has been a blessing in your life. Even better -- make a phone call every day, and let him or her hear you say it out loud! There are so many ways to defeat the darkness by the power of the light of thanksgiving. Be the spark that lights the fire.
God actually gives us instructions on how to approach Him. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:4-5) I'm to start my conversations with my good Father by remembering the things He's done for me, for the plans He has for my future, for all that I've seen Him do in this world. I'm to look back on my day and forward to the day ahead with gratitude for His good works and kindnesses. I'm even supposed to thank Him in the storms of life -- that's when His strength and faithfulness shine brightest!
If you've known me for very long at all, you know that being thankful to God is a very important part of my life (see my post from October 3). And because of that, you can just imagine how crazy I am about the month of November -- an entire month spent purposefully searching out and declaring God's generous and loving gifts! For the past few years, I've shared my gratitude in daily Facebook posts during the month of November, and many of you have joined in -- yay, YOU!
Somehow, I feel like this is the year that the whole "gratitude attitude" needs to go wild! We're in the midst of a hugely contentious election season. The evening news is full to overflowing with racial tensions, the refugee crisis, natural disasters, and other hard things affecting us and our world. And they're all critically important things. But if we focus on the hard and forget the beautiful, our hearts will lose hope, and our souls will become weary and full of despair.
So here's my proposal. Declare November the Month to Remember. Remember our God -- His strength, His sovereignty, His lovingkindness, His mercy, His forgiveness, His grace. And remember His good, sweet, personal gifts to each of us! And then share it! "It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me." (Daniel 4:2) If you're big into Facebook, post daily thoughts on gratitude and what you're thankful for. Challenge yourself to write at least one note a week leading up to Thanksgiving to thank someone for the ways he or she has been a blessing in your life. Even better -- make a phone call every day, and let him or her hear you say it out loud! There are so many ways to defeat the darkness by the power of the light of thanksgiving. Be the spark that lights the fire.
