So Much: A 3-Day YouVersion Bible Planنموونە

Practicing Gratitude

What are you thankful for?

At the start of each holiday season, this question hits its annual peak. There’s something about the cooler weather, the gathering of friends and family, and the delicious aroma of goodies that shift our gratitude into gear. It may be cliché, but anything that prompts us to reflect on the things we’re thankful for helps recenter our minds and hearts on who God is and what He’s done.

But what if we take gratitude a step further? What if instead of waiting for the holidays or another time we naturally feel thankful, we choose to make gratitude an intentional daily practice?

According to neuroscientific research, practicing gratitude helps increase dopamine in the brain, reduce stress, and combat anxiety and depression. We literally have the potential to rewire our brain chemistry with thankfulness!

And while the physiological benefits are great, in a spiritual sense, this process of renewing our mind can help us draw closer to our Creator. He is our loving Father who generously blesses us, and every good and perfect gift comes from Him. This means that no matter the season or circumstance, every day we have the choice to be grateful—turning our gratitude into praise for the One who deserves it all.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show me how to practice gratitude each day. Don’t allow me to wait to feel thankful to recognize all the blessings You’ve given me. You are worthy of all my praise. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.