Thanksgiving

Throughout the last decade, mental health professionals have urged people to establish thankfulness or gratitude part of their regular routine. A brief search on Google for “mental health and gratitude” results in 58,000,000 websites. The websites are from medical schools, universities, ministries, therapist and countless people who have benefited from the regular practice of giving thanks. Harvard Health lists a paper: “Giving thanks can make you happier.” (https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier) I want to let you in on a little secret. Gratitude is not a new idea for mental health. Gratitude is a foundational spiritual practices followers of Jesus are instructed to practice. “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 (NLT) “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. … And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (NLT) “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Hebrews 12:28 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. Amid feasting on turkey, dressing, ham and pie, take a few minutes to thank God for the blessings and the trials. Blessings are wonderful, and trials strengthen us. Thank Him for both. BUT, But, but … Make giving thanks a part of your daily routine. Thank God for the little, the big and the trying. It will bring a new level of peace into your life. Peace “which exceeds anything we can understand.”