31 Days of Gratitude [day seven]

I love when everything comes back around.

I was planning for my middle school small group and it was a lesson on emotions.  And the book we’re using said, “Make a conscious effort to replace stressful thoughts with prayer, scripture, or praise songs.”

A few weeks ago we talked about insecurity, and it said, “If your heart is filled with peace and thankfulness, then there’ll be no room for insecurity.”

Basically, when we replace the negative thoughts in our head with thoughts of thanksgiving, our world changes. It doesn't make bad life situations go away, but it helps us be present in the moment and attentive to the beauty all around us.

And I just smiled, because it is all just really simple.  All JOY requires is for us to shift our perspective and fill our hearts and heads with thanksgiving instead of jealousy, anxiety, frustration, insecurity, confusion, and the list. goes. on.

That is what 31 days of gratitude is all about.  It is a perspective change.  Start focusing on the good instead of the bad and soon the little annoyances will really seem little. All is well.

Some extra challenges that amazing friends have suggested just in the first few days –

Pray for the amount of people that matches the date.  (You think you can’t think of 500 people? Go through your Facebook friends. I dare you. Start with people you don’t like! That will change your heart.)

Psalm a day.  Start with Psalm 100. Right now:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
     Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!
 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures for ever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

The only way to change is to make a change. So if you are frustrated with life, feel like you are missing something…give this a try. Its not too late to join us. 

31 Days of Gratitude

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 15:57

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6