What are you thankful for?

As Thanksgiving approaches, it becomes a time we can reflect and thank back on the year we have lived. Maybe this has been the worst year of your life. Maybe this has been the best. Either way, reflecting back, you always, always have something to be thankful to God for.

Your life 

God put you on this earth for a purpose. You having breath in your lungs is living proof of that. God does not make mistakes. You are alive for a reason.

Your relationship with God

Sometimes the only thing you feel like you can rely on is the faithfulness of God Himself. When friends and family may disappoint you, God never will. He is always there for you and will never leave you.

The next few may look different for everyone, but we are all likely to have something in the list below we can be thankful for.

Your family, friends, and  significant other

We are not meant to live this life alone. We need to be surrounded by people who love us, protect us, and keep us accountable. Thank God for them.

Your church and church family

Similar to above, the congregation of your church are the best people to have in your corner. They will encourage you, support you, hold you accountable, and pray with you during any season you are facing.

Your health

Are you breathing with your lungs right now? Is your heart beating? Thank God for giving you health and honor God with your body.

Your time

Thank God for giving you the time to enjoy His company, enjoy the things you love, and spend time with the people you care about. If you are not doing this, reflect and see how you can make changes in the upcoming year to improve this.

Your job or education

Are you able to provide for yourself and possibly, your family? Are you working towards a goal to do so? Thank God for giving you the strength and ability for this.

Your home, water to drink, and food on your table

These are material things, and as a wealthy country; have even more material things than most can imagine. Thank God for the things you take for granted daily, like a roof over your head, clothes in your closet, shoes to wear (and most likely several different pairs), a mode of transportation, clean drinking water, and food to eat.

Technology

We live in a world where technology is everywhere. However you feel about technology, it has made our lives easier in so many ways. The phone in your pocket is a powerful computer - that is crazy! You can learn new hobbies, gain new knowledge, read the Bible, and so many more things all on one device. Thank God for all this to be easily accessible to us. We can use it for His glory and to become closer to him.

These are just a few of the things we can begin to thank God for. The Bible also tells us to give thanks in everything we do. Here are a few scriptures to reflect and pray over.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

• Psalm 107:1 - Oh give thanks to the Lord, for his is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

• Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

• Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

• Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When you give thanks, you automatically set yourself up for a better mental and emotional state. For the month of November, you could write out three things daily that you are thankful for, or grab a pumpkin and write one thing you are thankful for on it every day with friends or family.

No matter the circumstances, there is always something to be thankful to God for. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Whitney can be described by the opening lyrics of a few Tom Petty songs. She's a good girl who grew up in a small Indiana town who loves her mama, Jesus, and America too. She practices medicine as a physician assistant at an urgent care. Whitney is a music enthusiast and leads worship at her church. She has a heart for people, and wants to help young girls and women find their worth in Christ rather than what the world says of them. Whitney loves a good dad joke, Southern manners, working on her fitness, attempting macrame crafts, and hiking and traveling with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Milly.