Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Soon, grocery stores will overflow with activity, travelers will make their way home, tables will be set and lavish meals will be devoured. It is the season for family, football, turkey, pumpkin pie and of course, gratitude.
As we enter into this holiday week, here are 10 ways you can cultivate and express gratitude for who God is and all he has done in your life:
1. Create a gratitude list (Psalm 9:1)
Making a gratitude list is an easy, tangible way of connecting with the things you are grateful for. Start with the obvious — people, provision, food, God’s Word, health — and then move into the more detailed graces in your life, like the warmth of your dog’s nose nuzzled against your leg, the particular flavor of coffee or tea you enjoy in the morning and the specific ways God has shown you his love this week.
2. Praise and prayer ( Philippians 4:6)
As we recognize the many ways God has provided for us and cared for our needs, praise and prayer are a natural response. Take some time to verbally thank God for who he is and how he has shown himself to be faithful in your life.
3. Worship (Psalm 92:1, Hebrews 12:28)
Honoring and worshiping God for his goodness and generosity towards us is a wonderful expression of our thanks. You can worship him through song, dance, art, reading worshipful passages of Scripture and by telling him how exalted, worthy and glorified he is.
4. Give (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
One way we can respond to God in thanksgiving is by doing just that — giving out of our thanks. As we give generously back to God, through our time, money, talent and resources, we mirror his generosity towards us. None of our blessings are self-generated, so giving back is a deep proclamation that God is the Source of all we have. As we enter into the week of Thanksgiving, ask God about how you can give sacrificially to bless the work he is doing around you.
5. Be a good steward (2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 1 Peter 4:10)
We honor God in gratitude when we take good care of the blessings he has given us. Maybe that is your home, family, job and finances. Maybe it is your physical health, the relationships in your life, the beautiful garden in your backyard or the musical talent he has given you. As you look over your Gratitude List, ask God to help you be a good steward of the blessings in your life.
6. Remember (Psalm 143:5)
It can be easy to list the ways God has been kind and faithful to you, but allowing your gratitude to go beyond Thanksgiving Day is more challenging. Our thanksgiving is overshadowed by stress, work, busyness and hardships. The act of continually remembering God’s provision is one of the most important ways we can ensure our gratitude endures.
7. Celebrate (Deuteronomy 26:11, Psalm 95:2)
It is good and honoring to make much of what God has done in our lives — let’s not forget to celebrate! Celebrating small things and big things, like hitting all the green lights on your way to work or getting an A on a paper or the birth of a new baby, are all ways of declaring our joyful gratitude to God.
8. Obey (John 14:23, Colossians 3:16-17)
Obeying God’s commands in Scripture and the specific convictions he has placed on our hearts is a wonderful way to cultivate gratitude in our lives. We declare his goodness and our grateful allegiance to God each time we obediently follow him.
9. Practice humility (Psalm 138:2)
Practicing humility gives us a greater vision for the gifts in our life, and it increases our capacity for praising God. Without humility, we can overlook many of the blessings God has placed in our lives. Make time this week to ask God for a humble heart.
10. Lament (Psalm 77:8-13, Lamentations 3, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Many of us find ourselves in difficult places this season. Perhaps you are finding it hard to find things to be grateful for. Lament is a beautiful way of bringing sorrow and thanksgiving together. When joy and gratitude don’t come easily, the process of lament allows us to voice our despair to God while also acknowledging his faithfulness. In Christ, our pain and praise can coexist.
Becky Young is a photographer, spiritual director and writer. She has been a member of Faith Church for 3 years and serves with Faith’s Photography Team, Care Ministry and Writing Team.
Becky enjoys writing about soul care and cultivating a deeper life with God. Becky was born and raised in Colorado and enjoys spending time with her husband, gardening and exploring God’s creation.