Sunday, 24 September 2023
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.”
Make thankfulness your sacrifice!
In 2008 a young Australian woman, Hailey Bartholomew, found that she wasn’t enjoying life. She described herself as feeling lost and stuck on a treadmill. It was almost inexplicable. She was married to a man she loved and had beautiful children who loved her.
So why was she feeling down about her life?
Hailey sought the counsel of a nun, who advised her to spend time each day reflecting on something for which she was grateful. Hailey began a project called “365grateful”.
Every day she took a photograph of something for which she was grateful. It changed her life, allowing her to see things she had never noticed.
Thankfulness changes our perspective. It takes our eyes off the things that we do not have, the things that that we wish we had, the things that other people seem to have and it places our eyes on the things we have already been blessed with.
In a world where we are constantly encouraged to want more, constantly tempted to look at other people’s highlight reels presented on social media and feel that our lives don’t match up, thankfulness is a godly form of rebellion.
A rebellion against the current mentality that we need more material things. A rebellion against Facebook-stalking people for hours wishing our lives were like theirs. A rebellion against idolizing people, material possessions or lifestyles.
Thankfulness is powerful and it requires sacrifice. It requires intentionality. It requires discipline. It requires daily commitment.
Be inspired by Hailey, and choose to focus on the things you already have. Make thankfulness your sacrifice.
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