Thanksgiving Day is a day set aside to take stock and appreciate all the blessings in our lives. God’s Word shows us that being thankful is not a one-time occurrence- as believers it should be a lifestyle!
The Creator of all things loves us, sent His Son to redeem us, has a plan to prosper us and gave us everything we need to fulfill that plan! Praise God.
The Word tells us to give thanks to the Lord because it is good. We’re told to sing it, say it, proclaim it and much more. Just like sowing and reaping, sowing thankfulness can create a harvest of blessing.
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Thanksgiving Day is a day set aside to take stock and appreciate all the blessings in our lives. God’s Word shows us that being thankful is not a one-time occurrence- as believers it should be a lifestyle!
The Creator of all things loves us, sent His Son to redeem us, has a plan to prosper us and gave us everything we need to fulfill that plan! Praise God.
The Word tells us to give thanks to the Lord because it is good. We’re told to sing it, say it, proclaim it and much more. Just like sowing and reaping, sowing thankfulness can create a harvest of blessing.
Being Thankful Is Good For You
Some natural thoughts:
- University psychologists recently conducted a research project on gratitude and thanksgiving. Participants were divided into three groups. People in the first group practiced daily exercises like writing a gratitude journal. This group reported higher levels of alertness, determination, optimism, energy and less depression and stress than the other control groups. They also reported being a lot happier than the participants who were told to keep an account of all the bad things that happened each day.
- A variety of scientists have found that grateful people are better listeners, more generous and more likely to help those in need.
- The famous Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found that people who focus on the positive not only live longer, but they have more resistance to colds as well as reduced risk of coronary artery disease. They found that grateful people in their study exercised more and got sick less often.
- According to a study by British doctor Richard Davidson, negative thinking can actually weaken a healthy immune system.
- Less Stress! Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have a tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress.
- Research has pointed out that grateful people are not simply denying reality. To say that we feel grateful and thankful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means that we are aware of our blessings.
What The Word Says About Gratitude
Some God Thoughts
1. Psalm 100:4 (NLT) Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name.
2. Psalm 105:1 (NLT) Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.
3. Psalm 107:8-9 (NKJV) Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
4. Psalm 92:1 (NLT) It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High.
5. 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT) How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!
6. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
7. Psalm 136:26 (NLT) Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
Some Steps Toward An Attitude Of Gratitude
1. Write thank you notes.
2. Say thank you to other people.
3. Say grace before every meal.
4. Start a gratitude journal.
5. Set aside time every day to reflect on good things.
We pray God’s best for you and your family!
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Joe McGee, author, national conference speaker, father, and former school administrator, is the founder and director of Joe McGee Ministries, Inc. and Faith For Families Ministries.
Joe presents some of the most entertaining yet practical and insightful teaching on the family available today. Packing more into one sermon than anyone you've ever met, Joe's insights into relationships will open up scriptural secrets and common-sense applications which will powerfully change your marriage, your family and your life. He comes with years of experience and a humorous easy to listen to style that will help families become who God intended them to be.
A husband of more than 30 years and father of six children, Joe, along with his wife, Denise, has invested the past 20 years in family, marriage, and parenting issues.
Joe and his family currently make their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.