Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Thanksgiving is the outward expression of a grateful heart. We “give thanks” because we are aware of and grateful for things in our lives that we have received. This means that in order for us to apply an exhortation like 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances,” there is an attitude that must exist before the giving of thanks. Behind this command is an implicit need for a grateful heart. But, apart from a few naturally bubbly types, many of us are aware that there are times we do not “feel” grateful, which then leads to a distinct absence of thanksgiving in and throughout our daily lives.
I don’t say this to condemn anyone; my aim in this post is to encourage you to consider how to get behind the exhortation to “give thanks” by pursuing and cultivating a discipline of gratitude. We will not usually discover virtues like gratitude growing and flourishing apart from our effort, but, happy for us, we have been given all the grace we need in Christ to empower every effort to foster gratitude in our lives.
Grateful Four
One practice that has helped me grow in this area is something I’m going to call the “Grateful Four.” I find that the best time to cultivate the broader disciplines of Scripture intake, devotional reading, and prayer is to prioritize time with God immediately after waking up. That means avoiding the impulse to start interacting with my phone! I begin my time of personal devotions by opening a notebook I keep ready on the chair where I study and pray (it’s helpful to have a place designated for this), and I write down four things I am grateful for. An example from this morning:
- Thank you for 7 hours of sleep
- Thank you for my Community Group
- Thank you for hamburgers
- Thank you for grace
This is all low-hanging fruit that is ripe for the picking. I am prone to terrible sleep, and so I was grateful for a somewhat solid night of rest. Last evening, I gathered with my community group from church and enjoyed an evening of eating together and sharing what God is doing in our lives. Yesterday at lunch, I met a friend at Red Robin and enjoyed a massive, delicious hamburger. And, as I sat down in my chair before writing this list, I was aware, as I typically am, that I am a sinner who has been given forgiving and sustaining grace in Christ each day.
I’m confident there are as many ways to cultivate a grateful heart as there are people who set themselves to this task, but if you are looking for a way to grow in gratitude that leads to thanksgiving, consider incorporating the “Grateful Four” practice into your morning. Let me encourage you to cultivate a grateful heart so you can happily enjoy being someone who “gives thanks in all circumstances.”