An Attitude of Gratitude

“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 5:20

Are you ready for Thanksgiving?

I’m not asking about your dinner menu, table centerpiece, or whether your turkey is defrosting. I mean, are you ready to give thanks?

Some years ago, when Ken’s two young nephews joined us for Thanksgiving dinner, we went around the table sharing what we were thankful for. The nine-year-old scratched his head and said he couldn’t think of anything. We didn’t make a big deal of it, but it got Ken and me thinking.

Simply stated, a thankful heart doesn’t come naturally. You and I need to work at cultivating a truly grateful spirit.

Not long after that Thanksgiving meal, Ken and I committed to spending at least a few minutes at the beginning of our prayer time to express thanks to God. We used to charge right into a list of petitions, but now we put those off until first, we have given thanks.

Is an attitude of gratitude part of who you are? Do words of thanks flow effortlessly from your heart, or do you struggle to come up with a list of blessings?

This week be vocal about your gratitude and tell someone the things for which you are thankful. Like Ephesians 5:20 says, we are to always be giving thanks for everything!

Pray with me: Lord Jesus, sometimes I struggle to be thankful, even though you’ve given me countless blessings. Today, open my eyes to those blessings and fill my heart with a spirit of gratitude. And let me begin by thanking you for my salvation!