One look around my home and I’m reminded that life is good, and that all things are worth giving thanks for.  Through the ups and the downs, the clean and the messy, the good and the bad, the better or worse… let us give thanks.

I’m always thankful for family, sunshine, good food, friends, happiness, health, a roof over our head, and the list goes on…

Dirty laundry not so much–until I’m reminded that these clothes are a gift. The reason I have a pile of laundry is because we are blessed with drawers full of clothes.

I’m not thankful for dirty dishes, until I’m reminded that we have food in the fridge, and much food in our tummies.

I’m not thankful for fingerprints all over the fridge, until I’m reminded that wonderful children live in this home.

I’m not thankful for messy beds to make and sheets to wash, until I’m reminded that we have comfortable beds to sleep in at night.

I’m not thankful for the mess in our living room, until I’m reminded that life happens here.

One look around my home and I’m reminded that life is good, and that all things are worth giving thanks for.

Through the ups and the downs, the clean and the messy, the good and the bad, the better or worse… let us give thanks.

This month, I want to challenge you–as I challenge myself–to refocus. Let’s start looking at things from a better point of view. Let’s take a half empty glass, and make it half full.

In order to stay focused, we might need some help.

Scripture is the best way to get focused and to stay focused on God’s will for our lives. And so with that in mind, I’ve picked out 15 Bible verses that I’ve listed below.

Now, what are we going to do with these verses? Let’s borrow an idea from Deuteronomy 6:6-9:

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:6-9

I’m not going to challenge you to wear them on our foreheads like the Israelites did, but I do like the idea of talking about scripture and placing it around our house as a constant reminder to give thanks in all things. It’s kind of like writing them on the doorposts and the gates of our home, isn’t it?

SampleCardPut scripture in your laundry room as a reminder to give thanks. Put one by the sink to meditate on while you’re washing dishes. Put one by the front door to remind you that home is a gift. Put one by your bedside as a reminder that you’re loved… Each one of them is a reminder to give thanks.

For those of you who want to print out some little cards like the one shown here, instead of writing them yourself, you can find them at the links listed here (there are 3 separate files):
Thankful Cards 1-6
Thankful Cards 7-12
Thankful Cards 13-15

Also, if you pick up a copy of my prayer journal, “Quieting Your Heart for the Holidays,” you’ll find that I also provide a little space in the journal to give thanks on a daily basis. It’s such a good way to bring in the holiday season!

And don’t forget that we start our, “Quieting Your Heart for the Holidays” series on November 22nd. Get information on that series and a link to the free study guide by clicking here.

Here are 15 Bible verses to meditate on, each one reminding us to give thanks.

  1. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  2. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. – Psalm 95:2
  3. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34
  4. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. – Philippians 4:6
  5. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. – Colossians 3:15
  6. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. – Colossians 3:17
  7. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; – Colossians 4:2
  8. Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. – Psalm 106:1
  9. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. – Psalm 69:30
  10. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. – James 1:17
  11. O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. – Psalm 105:1
  12. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. – Psalm 118:1
  13. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. – Psalm 30:12
  14. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. – Psalm 100:4
  15.  I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high. – Psalm 7:17

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife

Quieting Your Heart For the Holidays: 30-Day Prayer Journal
is available now at Amazon!

Quieting Your Heart for the Holidays - A 30-day prayer journal designed to draw you closer to God through the holiday season

 Click here to take a peek inside the book,
and find out about our new series, “Quieting Your Hear for the Holidays.” 

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