Reminder 4: Rejoice and be thankful.

Rejoice? Be thankful? Are you kidding? Nope. I’m not.

In the midst of uncertainty, it is extremely easy to focus only on what is going wrong. What has happened. What we lack. What others have (that appears better).

Pause to give thanks. Pause to rejoice. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m saying it’s necessary.

Every November, I do a "Thankfulness Challenge." Here is the basic outline:

• Every day, set aside five minutes to be thankful.
• Devote one minute to each of five categories.
  • Thank God for WHO He is.
  • Thank God for HOW He has been faithful in the past.
  • Thank God for WHAT He has provided.
  • Thank God for WHOM He has put in your life.
  • Thank God for WHERE He will show up in the future.

Thankfulness and rejoicing are transformative. No matter what the uncertainty looks like, we can always find reasons to be thankful.

Today's Prayer

Generous God, I choose to rejoice and be thankful today. I thank you for who you are. I thank you for all the ways you've been faithful in the past. I thank you for all that I have. I thank you for the people you have put in my life. And I thank you - in advance - for the ways you will move and provide for me in the future. You are good and I trust in you. Amen.

The Reminders So Far...

1. Focus on the eternal. 
2. Build up instead of blame.
3. Remember God's "nearness."
4. Rejoice and be thankful.

NOTE: I have a 14-Day version of the Thankfulness Challenge as a plan right here in the Bible App. After you've completed this plan, go to the Plans tab and search for either "Thankfulness Challenge" or "Keith Ferrin."