Thankfulness

I've been doing a thankfulness/gratitude journal with my gal Emily for several months now. We started it as a one month challenge to start reconnecting with God, but then just kept on doing it as a way to stay connected to each other when I left Chicago. I'll be honest...I more often than not forget to do it and have to make up several days at a time...but I know that I feel so much better when I'm regularly expressing gratitude and thankfulness.

I read a couple different devotionals each morning, one of them being Jesus Calling. I love how it's written from Jesus' perspective...like He's talking to me each day.  Today's was exactly what I needed to get back into doing the gratitude journal with Em after a week or so sabbatical...

Bring ME the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of the sun. Before Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was as natural as breathing. Satan's temptation involved pointing Eve to the one thing that was forbidden her. The Garden was filled with luscious, desirable fruits, but Eve focused on the one fruit she couldn't have rather than being thankful for the many good things freely available. This negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation. 

When you Focus on what you don't have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened. You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me. You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is "fixed." 

 When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.

Isn't that so the way it is? When you stop thanking God for what you have, what He's given you, you start thinking that you deserve so much more and usually set out to get it on your own. Well, let me tell you...that never brings happiness, joy or contentment. Going it alone, and leaving God behind is a sure fire way to end up miserably unhappy.

Today, I choose joy and thankfulness. I don't have everything I want but I know God has provided me with everything I need, and for that, I'm truly grateful.