“So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.—Ephesians 1:6-8
As I close this month continuing to write about thanking and praising God, my heart has been filled with gratefulness. It has prepared my soul for the month of December.
Despite not having a plan for Christmas decorating, shopping or making a dent in the gifts I want to knit, I have peace. I know God will carve out the time for me to accomplish what needs to get done. The most important thing for me to do is keep my focus on my Lord and Savior.
Praising Him during it all is how I do that. While singing worship songs is an obvious way to praise God, there are also so more subtle ways we can give God praise.
Smiling when you see something of beauty such as a beautiful sunset that God created is one as well. Serving in the name of Jesus or sharing your testimony is another form of praise. Living your life for the Lord is an act of worship.
Talking to God is a way of life. Take a moment to thank God for all He has done for you so far today. If you or someone you know is in a season of struggle or pain, it is possible to be thankful for your blessings and at the same time be experiencing grief or sorrow. When your soul is weary, resting, or in distress, finding something to praise God for will lift your spirit. He delights in our praise.
Thanking God protects our hearts from keeping ingratitude from springing up in them. Rather than focusing on all that is wrong, our perspective changes to all that is going right in our life. It opens our eyes to see God’s presence in the smaller everyday moments. Seeing God’s hand in our life deepens our faith as well.
Being thankful fights off negativity spreading joy to those around us. Thanksgiving honors our Lod and Savior. We are acknowledging His goodness and supreme authority in our lives. Being Thankful is a much need spiritual practice. It promotes overall well-being by shifting our focus to the positive.
Father God,
Thank You for saving Your people by sending Your Son, Jesus to take the penalty for our sins. Thank You for showering Your kindness upon us. Increase my awareness of Your gift of grace so freely given to me. You are working in both good and bad times. Help me to praise You during it all. Keep my eyes open to see all of Your wonderful works. I lift those up to You whose negativity is keeping them from experiencing the peace and joy only You can provide. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
November Verse
“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.”—Psalm 113:3
If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.