Time is continuous, but turning the page to a new year prompts taking stock and setting goals.
How did you fare in 2016? What’s on your mind for 2017?
Gratitude versus Thanksgiving
Gratitude and thanksgiving are very similar. I think of gratitude as an attitude; a state of being grateful or thankful. While being thankful is also an attitude, I think more about giving thanks for specific benefits, people, or events.
In order to develop “an attitude of gratitude,” we need to be consciously, intentionally thankful. And we must scrub out grumbling from our lives.
Looking Back with Gratitude
I’ve tried lots of different methods to assess the past and plan for the new. This year I am doing something different. You might want to give this a try.
For what should I express gratitude? For what should I give thanks?
- I can see! In 2015 I had a significant scare with my eyes, but the Lord preserved my vision, and I am still doing well. I am so grateful this was His choice for me, even though I know He would be with me if I’d lost my sight.
- My book (When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready) is being used by Bible study groups and individuals. I’m thrilled to have it in readers’ hands and pray that the Lord will use it in their lives. I’m grateful it was published and available in paperback and eBook formats.
- I posted a blog every single Sunday of the year. (Since July 2014!) Blogging is mainly a one-way communication, at least for me, but I get enough feedback that I am encouraged. The Lord has used this blog in my own life, and I’m grateful.
And so forth.
I am going to go back through my journal, my calendar, and my checkbook to capture both big and small events for which I should give thanks and be grateful. It is so easy to enjoy the moment but not meaningfully capture its significance. And I’m not going to forget that I need to be thankful for what He taught me through some harder times.
I also need to watch for times I’ve grumbled. What was my gratitude/grumble ratio? Whatever it was, I need to eradicate grumbling and increase gratitude.
Gratitude is a good thing!
The Lord blesses gratitude. (See Give thanks. Always. In everything; Be Intentionally Grateful; Be the One)
Count your blessings as well
I’m thinking about this exercise in terms of temporal events, but I also periodically list as many of God’s blessings as I can in a defined period of time. For example, He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness.
Plan Gratitude into the New Year
Next, plan a method to increase your attitude of gratitude during 2017. And plan how you’ll decrease grumbling.
May your New Year, and mine, be marked by gratitude.
