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We've done this before on the forums around this time of year, but I thought it would be worth doing again and maybe adding a little focus and context to it.
I don't know if it's related to my introversion or not, but I can tend to be negative in my introspection, which translates to a persistent lack of gratitude. I spend time focusing on the negatives in my life and it really takes purposeful effort to stop and "count my blessings". Even when I try to express my thankfulness to God, it all too quickly turns into requests. (Nothing wrong with that in itself, but I'm not very good at really dwelling in thankfulness for any length of time.)
On top of that, even when I try to "be thankful", I easily forget that thankfulness, logically speaking, requires a subject, a person, to whom I am thankful. Americans tend to be "thankful" to no one and nothing (inserting "lucky stars" or "the gods" as a vague object of thanks), which means our "thankfulness" is really just us being "glad" or "relieved" to have something.
So how about we share what we are thankful for here in a sort of "public prayer format", starting our expressions of thankfulness by directing them to God? (Thank you God, for... Thank you Jesus, for... etc) Chime in whenever you're ready and maybe I'll share some of them on the podcast next week!
God, thank you so much for my gracious, patient, beautiful wife. Thank you for my precious boys. Thank you for letting us live together, learning to love each other. Thank you for providing for our needs. Thank you for all the ridiculous material blessings you provide that are far above and beyond our genuine needs. Thank you for our church and the people there that keep me accountable as well as those I can invest in. Thank you for the opportunities you've given me to love and bless people, both in person and online. Thank you for giving me an avenue to serve you through creative arts. Thank you for the eternal rescue you have given now and promised for the future. Thank you for the hope and relief that knowledge of that future provides in times of exhaustion. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, shaping me and my work for your glorious, amazing and eternal purposes. Thank you for the secure identity and righteousness I have because of you, Jesus. Thank you for your tireless forgiveness and grace.
I don't know if it's related to my introversion or not, but I can tend to be negative in my introspection, which translates to a persistent lack of gratitude. I spend time focusing on the negatives in my life and it really takes purposeful effort to stop and "count my blessings". Even when I try to express my thankfulness to God, it all too quickly turns into requests. (Nothing wrong with that in itself, but I'm not very good at really dwelling in thankfulness for any length of time.)
On top of that, even when I try to "be thankful", I easily forget that thankfulness, logically speaking, requires a subject, a person, to whom I am thankful. Americans tend to be "thankful" to no one and nothing (inserting "lucky stars" or "the gods" as a vague object of thanks), which means our "thankfulness" is really just us being "glad" or "relieved" to have something.
So how about we share what we are thankful for here in a sort of "public prayer format", starting our expressions of thankfulness by directing them to God? (Thank you God, for... Thank you Jesus, for... etc) Chime in whenever you're ready and maybe I'll share some of them on the podcast next week!
God, thank you so much for my gracious, patient, beautiful wife. Thank you for my precious boys. Thank you for letting us live together, learning to love each other. Thank you for providing for our needs. Thank you for all the ridiculous material blessings you provide that are far above and beyond our genuine needs. Thank you for our church and the people there that keep me accountable as well as those I can invest in. Thank you for the opportunities you've given me to love and bless people, both in person and online. Thank you for giving me an avenue to serve you through creative arts. Thank you for the eternal rescue you have given now and promised for the future. Thank you for the hope and relief that knowledge of that future provides in times of exhaustion. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, shaping me and my work for your glorious, amazing and eternal purposes. Thank you for the secure identity and righteousness I have because of you, Jesus. Thank you for your tireless forgiveness and grace.
