I don’t know how many years it has been since I first stumbled upon Ann Voskamp’s corner of the internet, but her words made a big impact on my life that still continues today. While I have not been counting gifts consistently every single day for a little while now, that process made me more aware of noticing the little things in my life for which I should daily be grateful.
It is easy to get busy in our everyday lives and miss out on being thankful for the blessings and gifts that God bestows upon us each and every day.
All too often we are waiting for the big blessings and gifts to show up in order to tell God thank you.
When you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous, after all, we are thankful to God for everything we have. We know that isn’t how thankfulness is supposed to work. However, for most of us, that is how we show our thankfulness.
If it is a big enough deal, a big enough gift to capture our attention, to pull us away from our busy days, we will take time to thank God for His blessing.
Throughout Scripture, we see over and over again that we’re supposed to be thankful and to praise God for His goodness in our lives.
Nowhere does it say that the blessings or gifts are to be of a certain size or importance for us to whisper (or shout!) a prayer or praise of thanksgiving.
Rather, in Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Why is it so difficult for us to stop what we’re doing and thank God? For the roof over our heads, the food in our fridges, the clothes in our closets, the blue skies and sunshine or for the gift of salvation for which we can never be thankful enough.
The truth? We’re too busy and we’ve become complacent.
Rather than keeping our eyes open to see what God is doing, we go about our days taking care of our day’s to-do list. If we’re not in too much of a hurry (or too hungry) we might remember to pause before each meal and thank God for the food set before us and ask God to bless the hands that prepared it.
While we should expect God to provide for all of our needs as He promises us in His word, that does not in any way, shape or form mean that we stop being thankful for His provision for our lives. It is His perfect provision for us, His children, that should call us to thankfulness throughout our days — no matter how busy we may be.
On the way home from church recently, God gave me the following acrostic to share. It is my hope and prayer that it helps you become more faithful in your thankfulness to the Lord for all of the gifts and blessings He bestows on your life each and every day.
- Tell
Tell God and others about the gifts and blessings He gives you. Give thanks to Him in prayer and by sharing His work and provision in your life with others.
- Humble
Humble yourself. I believe that part of our complacency is due to us just expecting God to provide for us because He says He will. God gives and takes away. We need to remember that we aren’t owed anything.
- Ask (or answer)
Scripture tells us to make our requests be known unto God. If you have a need of a gift or blessing in your life, ask Him believing and being thankful that He provides. If God has given you a gift or blessing that you haven’t answered with thanksgiving, take time to do so.
- Name
Name the gifts and blessings you’ve been given (from the chattering squirrel on your porch to your prodigal child coming home) by creating a thanksgiving/grateful list. I’m starting a brand new journal recording my daily gifts from Heavenly Father.
- Keep on, keeping on
The blessings and gifts we receive from God don’t stop, nor should our prayers and praises of thanksgiving. It truly is amazing the difference to be found in our lives when we’re attentive to God’s working in our lives and respond with a spirit and heart of thanksgiving.
