Living Grateful Every Day

IWM Devotion: Living Grateful Every Day

Key Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”


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Word for Today

Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you” when things are going well, it’s a daily lifestyle. Today, we can truly say we are grateful because we have a Father whose mercy is new every morning,“His mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23), not just today, but every single day. And for that, we are thankful.

From the moment we were born, we’ve been breathing, eating, sleeping, waking up, and going about our lives. We’ve enjoyed so many things, often without even thinking about them. The Bible says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6). But sometimes, we get so busy with our daily routines that we forget to pause and simply say, “Thank You, Lord.”

We may not have everything we want yet, but we are alive, and that alone is a reason to be grateful. The Word reminds us that “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). God is the One who sustains us and answers our prayers, even the ones we don’t keep track of.“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). 

You know, for some of us it’s very easy to appreciate people and say thank you. Someone helps you, someone drives you to work, someone helps look after your child, someone buys from your business, and you genuinely feel grateful and say thank you. But for some people, others can do so much for them and they still don’t appreciate it. And honestly, that’s not a good thing.

Personally, I’m a very grateful person and I’ve always been like that. I understand how much effort it takes for someone to help another person, so I value kindness a lot. I say thank you for almost everything. Sometimes people around me even say, “You don’t need to say thank you for that.” But I still do. Because the truth is, “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).

I remember a time when it really came strongly into my heart that God had done so many things for me. So I decided that every day, I would intentionally say thank you to God for what He does in my life. I bought a notebook and started writing things down daily. At the end of each month and especially by the end of the year, I realized that God had actually done far more for me than I even noticed in the moment.

That’s why gratitude is so powerful. When you take time to focus on God’s goodness, you will be surprised at how much He has been doing for you (Psalm 100:4). So I want to encourage you, start now. It’s not too late. From tomorrow, begin to write down the things you’re grateful for each day. By the time you get to December, even before December, you’ll clearly see how faithful God has been in your life.

Something happened during a midnight prayer with my sisters, we were connected online through CTDMP (Dunamis). At some point, we paused to listen to a testimony. Then one of my sisters suddenly said, “I have a testimony.” We all waited to hear something big, but she simply lifted her voice and said, “Lord, I am forever grateful for life.”

In that moment, it really touched me. I realized how sincere and powerful that kind of gratitude is. She didn’t say that because everything in her life was perfect. She still had things she was praying and trusting God for, but she understood the importance of being thankful.

And that’s our encouragement today, let’s learn to appreciate God sincerely, not just this morning, but every day. No matter your situation, choose gratitude.“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father” (Ephesians 5:20). If you’re married or not yet, be thankful. If you have children or you’re still trusting God, be thankful. If your business or ministry feels like it’s in God’s hands alone, be thankful.

God has already done so much for us, and there is still more to come. But above all, He deserves our praise and worship, (Hebrews 13:15).  So why not take a few minutes today to praise Him and show Him how much you appreciate Him? And don’t just do it today, make it a daily habit.

Be grateful. Because gratitude is an attitude that reflects a humble heart.

Prayer


Lord, thank You for the gift of life. Thank You for Your mercy that is new every morning. Help me to live each day with a grateful heart, no matter my situation. Teach me to appreciate You not just in good times, but in all circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Confession


I choose to be grateful every day. My heart is full of thanksgiving, and I recognize God’s goodness in my life at all times