She hasn’t slept till noon in decades. It’s been at least that long since she’s used concealer for an acne flair-up. She doesn’t spend hours hanging out at the mall unless she’s doing Christmas shopping for her grandkids. She couldn’t care less if she’s “in” with the popular crowd. The last time she pulled an all-nighter was when a stomach bug rampaged through her house – certainly not to complete a last-minute physics project. In fact, she wasn’t even born in this century (gasp!).

But last spring, my friend became a teenager. Thirteen years ago, a habit was birthed in her way of life that has transformed her outlook, her understanding, and her intimacy with God. My friend began a gratitude journal.

I dug around a little to track down advice on how to develop good habits, and I found some interesting tips.

This may be old news to you, but I learned that there’s this thing called the 21/90 rule. The rule is that it takes 21 days to make a habit out of something and 90 days for that habit to become a lifestyle change. Huh. Obviously enough, a good habit is a great way to break a bad habit. Rather than just stopping the bad habit, it’s important to replace it with a better practice. Engaging friends and family for support is helpful. Making practicing your new habit fun also tends to lead to success. Be patient with yourself, and look to the future. Think about your goal and the benefits you’ll eventually enjoy if you stick to your plan.

I know my friend pretty well, and I seriously doubt that she consciously followed those habit-changing tips when she began to count her blessings.

That 21/90 rule? She just picked up her pen one day and started recording God’s faithfulness in her journal – one blessing after another. Twenty-one days, then 90 days, and pretty soon, it had become 4,748 days. I’d say she has a habit. Wouldn’t you?

She replaced bad habits – worrying, being fearful, feeling uncertain about several life situations – with very good habits – being thankful to the Lord, trusting Him more, and focusing on the beauty right in front of her eyes.

As she grew more enthusiastic with her new discipline, she began to joyfully recruit others to this life-changing practice. Next thing you know, family and friends joined in practicing numbering gifts, too (me included). Voila – a support group!

If anyone can make anything fun, my friend is your girl! She celebrated each landmark associated with keeping her gratitude journal – every time she’d listed another 1,000 blessings; the start of a new journal; and her annual “countaversary” on the date she listed her first gift – “#1.”

Daily she added to her list, and 40,000 journal entries later, she has absolute joy about the future God has for her – a future secure in His perfect love, sovereignty, and grace.

For 13 years…she’s been keeping a journal close at hand. She’s kept her eyes wide open to find evidence of God’s goodness – and she’s found it! She’s kept a running list of His gifts to her. She’s disciplined her mind’s eye to see blessings in trials, silver linings in clouds, and hope in heartache.

This would seem like a sweet little story if my friend had just been waltzing through life with no troubles or trials. And it is a sweet story. But it’s a story of a woman who has fought long, hard battles on her knees before the throne of God. She’s tested His faithfulness and found Him true.

She “considers it pure joy when trials come her way” because she understands that her God is at work – testing her faith and cultivating perseverance so that she may be mature and complete. (James 1:2-4) She’s disciplined herself to “be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances,” knowing that’s “God’s will for her in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

She enters into her time in God’s court of prayer with praise and thanksgiving, resting in His goodness and enduring love and trusting in His faithfulness through all generations – her precious children and grandchildren. (Psalm 100:4-5) She’s devoted to prayer, watchful, and thankful to her Father. (Colossians 4:2)

She remembers His benefits, and she’s grateful – He “forgives her sins, heals her diseases, redeems her life from the pit, crowns her with love and compassion, and satisfies her desires with good things so that her youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5)

She walks in confidence, knowing she’s receiving an unshakable kingdom. Her gratitude continually overflows as she worships the Lord “with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28) In fact, whatever she does – whether in word or deed - is done in Jesus’ name. (Colossians 3:17) This girl is redeemed! Fueled by thanksgiving, she joyfully tells her Jesus story to anyone who will listen. (Psalm 107:1-2)

My friend would be the first to tell you – from her own personal experience – that the discipline of gratitude to God is a life-changing habit. And she’d be the first to encourage you to start that habit today.

If you ever get to meet her, don’t be confused by the fact that she doesn’t look or act like any teenager you’ve ever known. Just trust me – she’s 13 and counting – counting her blessings!