Since 2012, I have been trying to live a life focused on giving thanks. Of being grateful. Of counting my blessings. And it has radically transformed me in my life.
I must be honest and share how I do not focus on giving things nearly as much as I need or should. Nonetheless, when I do remember, and make it a lifestyle, it changes things and it changes me.
When you give thanks for everything, for the good, for the bad, and for the indifferent, it changes your perspective. It helps you see. You no longer have blinders and are no longer blind. You are no longer numb or just going through the motions.
Giving thanks brings whole new life.
I have not focused on giving Thanks for a long period of time in way too many months. And I realize that this has been my downfall in many ways. After all when you do not give thanks for everything, and I mean, literally everything, you began to lose perspective, and you even begin to lose yourself.
With that being said, it is easy to focus on self and I am what you think and on what you want, not on what God wants.
When you give thanks, it helps you look outside of yourself, to look around, to see, observe, and notice. You began to observe the world and see things afresh, as you are no longer focused on self or circumstances.
When you give thanks to God, you focus on Him. Our focus is to always be on Him, not on the things of this world, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2). And it is amazing when we focus on Him, not on the things of this world, because it frees us from this world. We no longer are dependent on anyone or anything of this world, but become focused and dependent on the only one we can truly trust which is God.
When we focus on God, not on the people or things of this world, we actually can love people more. We also can serve Him more. We can bring Him more glory. And that is because when we give Thanks our eyes, our hearts, our minds are open, and are fine tuned to Him, and when we are focused on Him, we live for Him not for the things of this world. And this takes so much pressure off of us. It frees us.
Living a lifestyle of Thanksgiving means fully living. It means being free. It means loving more.
A PRAYER
God help us to give You thanks for everything. You deserve no less. We want to appreciate everything that you have given us. We want to focus on You, on what you are doing, and live for You. Thank You for freeing us from this world thank You for helping us fully live. We realize that this can only come through giving thanks for everything. Nothing we have is Yours. Everything belongs to You. Thank You for all that we do have, for we have everything that we need. To You alone, be the glory, the honor, and the praise.
Journaling 1189 