It has been a rough year. One no one could have ever predicted. For many of us, gratitude isn’t at the forefront of our minds. But this is exactly when we should count our blessings!

Giving thanks in the midst of pain and agony isn’t an easy thing to do. Just ask King David in the Bible. He faced many afflictions- King Saul tried to kill him on numerous occasions, his son Absalom attempted to steal his throne, and another son died as an infant. Yet in the midst of these trials, the Bible records many of David’s prayers of thanksgiving and praise. In Psalm 34:1 (GNT) he says,

“I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him.”

David learned the importance of thanking God in the midst of the storm. He learned that fixing his eyes on God and not his troubles turned his pain into praise.

That’s the power of gratitude! When we thank God in the midst of difficult seasons, it fills our hearts with hope. It reminds us that God is faithful and he is able to deliver us from our troubles.

As we approach this Thanksgiving, in what has been a tumultuous year, focus your heart on thanking God. To help you do so, we’ve created a prayer journey entitled, “The Power of Gratitude: A 5-Day Journey”. Use this guide to help you fix your eyes on God through Thanksgiving and to discover the benefits of practicing gratitude. We pray your heart will be encouraged as you thank God this Thanksgiving.

Tweet

Nena Podbury

Nena Podbury is a Prayer Mobilization Associate at American Bible Society. Originally from the Bronx, she served in children’s ministry for 12 years doing Sidewalk Sunday School. Nena is married with two children, Noah and Emilia.