Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.
[Excerpted from Let Gratitude Show You the Way: A 21-Day Devotional Guide, Herald House, 2012, p. 5]
Our lives can become so familiar to us that we stop noticing the generosity of God that is all around us and are unaware of the giftedness of life. We take so much for granted, focusing on what we are lacking, choosing to count our problems rather than our blessings.
Gratitude opens our eyes and helps shift our focus. Like putting on a pair of long-needed glasses for the first time, we discover what we have been missing. Now we start to see the world through the lens of abundance rather than scarcity, recognizing the good that is present in our lives that might otherwise have remained unseen, hidden, and ignored.
We cultivate this awareness when we take time each day to intentionally pay attention to moments that invoke a feeling of thankfulness by asking the simple question, “What am I grateful for today?”
Prayer Phrase
“…give thanks in all circumstances” (Thessalonians 5:18).
Practice Gratitude
Set aside an intentional time every day to:
- Read a daily reflection.
- Prayerfully reflect on your day (or previous day).
- Ask the question, “What am I grateful for today?”
- Write it down.
Expressions of gratitude don’t need to be sappy and tearful, just sincere and heartfelt. It can be for the little and the big things in life; it can also be for the ordinary and the mundane. First thing in the morning? Middle of the day? Last thing at night? It doesn’t matter when. It matters that you do it the same time every day and you are consistent.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.