The devotional and scriptures for today are near and dear to my heart. I had no idea until a few years ago about how much difference gratitude/praise to our Lord can make in a person's life!
About 12 years ago, my daughter and a good friend gave me the same book for a Christmas gift. It is called "Simple Abundance," and I don't profess that I have done a fraction of the things that are suggested in the book. However, I decided that maybe God was nudging me to be more disciplined about one thing in particular - keeping a gratitude journal to write in at the end of everyday. I have done this most nights since that time and I truly believe it has made me a happier person and one much more content with my life. By writing down some specific blessings from that day, it has made me so much more aware of God's Presence and guidance and Love.
In the last few years, I have spoken to Sunday School and Bible study groups about gratitude and some of the effects of faithfully keeping a gratitude journal. In doing so, I have found unbelievable medical and psychological research on the positive effects of this one simple act on our part. Some articles are written from a Biblical standpoint and some from secular such as from the Mayo Clinic. For me, it doesn't matter where they come from. What matters is that the Bible gives us the command to praise God and our life can be changed by doing so.
Today's scripture from I Thessalonians 5:18 is one that has spoken to me repeatedly and serves as a good reminder of the importance of giving thanks to our Lord in all situations (which is sometimes very difficult!). Do you keep a gratitude journal - or are you willing to try to do so? I and other readers would be very interested in how it affects your life.
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