It’s that time of year. We know how the season is supposed to go down. Besides pumpkin pie and turkey, we are encouraged to cultivate attitudes of gratitude. Something accomplished by growing grateful hearts.

Such as these attitudes:

Count our blessings.

Be thankful.

Express our gratefulness.

Show our generosity.

And when we look at this list, do we think of our lives, our family, and more importantly, our God? 

So how do we cultivate attitudes of gratitude in all the areas of our lives, for the people in our lives, and for the God who gives us life? 

Even further, are gratitude, generosity, and thanksgiving possible January through December—not just during November or on Thanksgiving Day?

And where do we start? Let’s use the list in the introduction and unpack each one.

(1.) Count Our Blessings: Growing Grateful Hearts

Everyone brace yourselves. This is going to blow our minds! The Lord provides:

• Basic needs. 
• Our people: spouse, children, extended family, friends, and Himself in the three persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Skills (jobs), talents, spiritual gifts, and identity in Christ. 
• Life: eternal life, abundant life, and life itself…the very breath in our lungs.
• Every spiritual blessing. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) While it’s not an exhaustive list, these include: amazing grace, never-ending mercy, unconditional and undying love, unsurpassed peace, real hope, authentic faith, unwavering truth (the Bible), overflowing joy, God’s fullness for our emptiness, and the Lord’s goodness, kindness, and compassion. 

If we counted our blessings, really made a list, our mouths may gape open and our hearts fill with gratitude. So, go ahead, make a list. Count your blessings. 

(2.) Be Thankful: Growing Grateful Hearts

Psalm 100 exclaims a thankfulness to the Lord. Look at verse 4, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (ESV) The psalm paints a picture of thankfulness for God’s goodness and mercy in our lives and so much more. 

And thanksgiving often changes our perspective. Whether life is going great or we are walking through hardships. Thanking God for all He’s done and all He will do cultivates a grateful heart.

Whether life is going great or we are walking through hardships. Thanking God for all He’s done and all He will do cultivates a grateful heart. #thanksgiving @fridaykaren
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(3.) Express Our Gratefulness: Growing Grateful Hearts

Recently, I told a friend I was grateful for her friendship. Yet, when was the last time I expressed those same sentiments to family members and to the Lord? Some examples: 

• Spouse, “Honey, I’m so grateful you’re in my life and for all you mean to our family.”
• Children, “I thank the Lord He allowed me to be your mother. You are special to me.”
• Friends, “Your encouragement in my life and my Christian walk means more than you know. I’m grateful for you.”
• God, “Lord, I stand amazed at Your craftsmanship in me as Creator, Your faithfulness and care to me as Father, Your voice and direction to me as Guide, Your revelation and wisdom to me as Truth, and Your redemption and protection for me as Rescuer and Deliverer. Thank You, Lord. I’m so grateful.”

(4.) Show Our Generosity: Growing Generous Hearts

Our gratefulness directly affects our generosity. Years ago, as I reflected on gratitude, God spoke to my heart. 

Grateful people are generous people. Generous people are grateful people. 

It proves true with me. When gratefulness rises in my heart, I’m more generous with my money and time and service to others. Likewise, when my generosity bubbles over on others, gratefulness swells in my soul. 

Therefore, we ask ourselves if we are generous with our time, money, service, love, spiritual gifts, and forgiveness. 

Do we show acts of generosity to our family, friends, neighbors, community, and the least of these—hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and imprisoned—as defined in Matthew 25?

Yes, it’s that time of year. But let’s ask the Lord to help us in growing grateful and generous hearts all year long.

Also see Sincere ThanksGiving Through ThanksLiving.

Featured image courtesy of Adobe Express.

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Lately, I’ve formed a word-habit in my online replies. I throw out the word over and over again.

Blessings! Thanks and blessings! I pray blessings over your ministry. Blessings to you and your family! Happy Birthday and blessings! 

See what I mean? I quite overuse the word.

But do I realize what’s behind the well wishes? And do I give thanksgiving for my blessings?

Count Your Blessings

Google tells us blessings are “God’s favor and protection.” Dictionary.com defines blessing as “a favor or gift bestowed by God.”

We’ve heard it said to count our blessings. But if we look at the shocking amount of blessings a generous God extends to us, they are hard to number.

We’ve heard it said to count our blessings. But if we look at the shocking amount of blessings a generous God extends to us, they are hard to number. @FridayKaren #Blessings #Thankful
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Of course, we all count ourselves blessed with family and friends. Also, blessed in how God provides for our daily needs of food, shelter, the jobs we hold, and more.

As a pastor’s wife and believer, I’m blessed by the local church in how God uses both ministers and members to build us up in the faith. Perhaps we ought to name this our spiritual M&M’s.

And who’s not giving thanks these days for health? I pray to never take a healthy body for granted. Or, the physical well-being of my family members.

But there are times we forget, even as Christ-followers, and we need reminding of the vast blessings from a gracious God. Too numerous to even count. How do I know?

Blessings from a Generous God

For example, take the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus. After he greets the saints who were faithful in Christ, he says this:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us IN Christ with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3, emphasis mine).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us IN Christ with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3 @FridayKaren #Blessings #Thankful
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First, Paul calls God “blessed.” We bless Him as our Father.

Yet, I find it interesting how we bless God, then go on to state the reason is none other than the fact He has blessed us. And not only blessed, but in Christ, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing.

In the Blue Letter Bible online, the second blessed in this verse (describing those of us in Christ), is the Greek word, makarios, meaning “happy, happier.” So hold on, we will soon see how spiritual blessings do indeed make us happier than anything the world offers us.

If we draw out the forms of the word “bless” to summarize, here’s what it says in a nutshell: Blessed is God, who blesses us with every spiritual blessing. You see, God finds pleasure in blessing us with only what comes from Him. Wow!

What a blessing! Seems to me we receive the grand part of this truth—God’s favor, protection, provision, and more. A truth lending itself for thanksgiving to a good and generous God.

Many Spiritual Blessings 

Ephesians goes on to remind us of the many spiritual blessings in chapter 1:

• Chosen by God.
• Loved by God.
• Adopted by the heavenly Father.
• Riches of grace lavished on us.
• Redeemed through Jesus’ blood.
• Forgiven of trespasses.
• Spiritual wisdom and revelation.
• Insight to know God’s will.
• Plan and purpose for our life.
• Spiritual inheritance.
• Hope in Christ.
• Truth.
• Peace.
• Gospel of Salvation.
• Sealed with the Holy Spirit.
• Enlightened hearts.
• Greatness of God’s power working in us.

Countless Blessings

But Paul’s writings here aren’t exhaustive. When I reflect on “every spiritual blessing,” it reminisces of more:

• Mercy.
• Faith.
• Steadfastness.
• Prayer.
• God’s long-suffering toward me.
• God’s acts of providence in my life.
• Comfort during troubled times.
• The Lord’s voice leading me.
• Second, third, fourth, and countless chances for messing up.
• Spiritual discipline (not pleasant, but yields a great reward).
• Relationship with the Creator.
• Strength for times of waiting.
• Healing for physical ailments and a wounded heart.
• The privilege to minister in Jesus’ name.
• Ability to overcome the world.
• God’s glory seen in me and my callings.

There’s more, so much more! Oh, the indescribable thanks to God from whom all blessings flow—straight into our laps and lives.

Let’s truly be a people of God who calls Him, Blessed, meaning it and living it out in our daily lives.

All Scripture references taken from the ESV.

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Join @FridayKaren as we discuss our countless blessings and the indescribable thanks to God from whom all blessings flow—straight into our laps and lives. Link up is open. Share your blog. #Blessings #Thankful
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