In this month of thanksgiving (at least in the states), I find it challenging to ‘fit in’ time to be thankful. (sad right?) Is it just me? Is it that pile of stuff on my ‘to-do’ list that is hounding me and me alone? I hope not! Yet I know that we have a mandate to thanks God and praise him in all circumstances, not just when I have time. I know too that there are benefits to thanking him all the time. I even need to thank him for this busy season of my life. He has filled me with so many ideas and plans – I thank him for that! He has also reminded me that what I get done or not done in a day is all up to him and not my efforts. When I have interruptions and things don’t go as I expected, he knew. So, I am less frequently disappointed than I used to be, I used to think that I let him down by not finishing my list. But I finally have understood that the list that takes priority is his. His list takes priority over mine.

Have I accomplished his list? Then all is well. No matter how much is left undone. So, I find myself in this busy season also seeking simple moments to thank him, as I am reminded this month.

1.     Stop and smell the roses. In this busy season (at least for me), I take a moment to appreciate our Lord’s creation around us. He planned all of this and created it before he created man. It is here for our pleasure, for our enjoyment. The blue of the sky, the green of the grass and leaves. One of our neighbors has a lovely line of poinsettias along their balcony that I gushed over the other day. Thank him for what you see of his around you. Let us join together with Psalm 95:3-5, ‘For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.’

2.     Turn up the praise music. I find singing along to praise and worship music is the easiest way to recall the benefits of the Lord, of choosing him, following him. They are the topic of many songs, so adding a thanks for these benefits is natural. As Psalm 103:2-5 reminds us, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.’

3.     Thank others for their relationship with you. Thanking others will also recognize the work of the Lord in them. They give to us of themselves, in part because God has blessed them to be as they are; in part because you are great and beloved by God. Others may serve you as part of a church ministry, at work, in family. A simple (quick), ‘thank you!’ can do wonders for everyone and certainly includes God in the thanks. 2 Corinthians 9:13 says, ‘Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.’

4.     Thank him in prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 exhorts us to, ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ It is important that we incorporate thanks into our daily prayer time. We can begin with the 30 days of giving thanks prompts if it is a new rhythm, or we can begin with people in our lives and praying for them. Setting time aside deliberately to thank the Lord in all circumstances means when we are busy, when we are in the midst of a storm, when we are interrupted, when we are overwhelmed, thankfulness continues to flow from us. In every circumstance, we give thanks as part of our rhythms of being with the Lord.

What simple ways do you offer thanks to our Lord? Add a note in the comments below to share. I enjoy hearing from you.