It’s been quite a year and we’re feeling sucker-punched in the midst of 2020. As the year-end looms ever closer on the calendar, we question how to practice gratitude in the New Year. COVID shook, sifted, and reassembled our daily lives. We held our breath through the daily death toll, mask requirements, and losing our jobs. We bowed our heads during the riots, the fires, the voting season, and we’re left standing in the aftermath. Families are missing their loved ones. Churches are divided. And the community isn’t the same. Is it possible to find gratitude and joy again? Is it even possible to be hopeful of the New Year? Pain easily overshadows joy; we are quick to point out what didn’t work or is not working in our lives. What went well, however, takes time to notice because the latter is most likely something we commonly take for granted. This is the reason Thanksgiving comes before Christmas and then the New Year. We give thanks to God because giving thanks to God leads to the miracles of God and that is our focus in the New Year. So how do we practice gratitude in the New Year while we are standing in the ashes of what once was?
Gratitude is important because it keeps us tethered to reality. It takes us beyond ourselves and reminds us of the interconnection and interdependence of all things in God’s creation. And it can lift our spirits and give us comfort during difficult times. Practicing gratitude is the antidote to fear and feelings of not being in control.
As defined by the dictionary, gratitude is: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. I thought I knew what gratitude was until an underlying heart condition nearly took my husband’s life. In the midst of his health crisis, I was hospitalized with a brain infection. We lost over two years of our lives to one medical crisis after another. When we were left standing on solid ground, we found the horizon had changed for both of us.
Suddenly the minute and the mundane were precious. Each dawn was a new day to be grateful for the breath in our lungs, cozy covers, lazy Saturdays in pajamas, and a warm home. We found ourselves thankful for Friday night bonfires, late-night walks, our kids bickering over their favorite couch during movie nights. The art of practicing gratitude became a thread of joy woven into our lives. As we continued to heal more than 18 months had passed and gratitude had become a daily habit. We found gratitude had become a part of the healing process and a way of life.
Gratitude is vital to our souls and daily lives. We’re reminded in the Scriptures that Jesus came so we can live life abundantly. Paul reminded us to: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18. Paul preached the winning trifecta for our personal growth as followers of Jesus. The gratitude piece “in all circumstances” can be difficult. He reminded us to give thanks in all circumstances for Jesus’ continual presence with us, what He has done for us, and the good He will bring in our difficulties.
But the verse that really hits the home run about the practice of gratitude is Colossians 2:7 when the author pointed out deep roots in Jesus give us life-giving strength and a strong faith which should cause us to overflow with thankfulness. Practicing gratitude means noticing, appreciating, and enjoying the good things in life and the gifts we’ve received from others.
Even Jesus practiced gratitude. Jesus began and ended his prayers with words of thanks and praise to his father and in the Lord’s Prayer, he taught his followers to do the same (Matthew 6:9-13). He even thanked God for the opportunity to sacrifice his life for the world (Matthew 26:26-27). Jesus appreciated God as the Father who watched over all his creation including wildflowers and the sparrows thought to be of little value (Matthew 6:26-30).
He thanked him for providing food (Luke 24:30), for listening to him (John 11:41), and for the opportunity to minister to others (Matthew 14:19, 15:36). Jesus lived in thankfulness to God. And he expressed his thanks to God publicly for the benefit of others that they too might learn to be grateful to God (John 11:41-42). Practicing gratitude means noticing, appreciating, and enjoying the good things in life and the gifts we’ve received from others.
Let’s consider real life for a moment. Life happens to us and circumstances seem overwhelming. It feels bad. It feels overwhelming and dark. It’s hard to think of the silver lining when you are heartbroken and feel like your life is falling apart. When our lives were falling apart, I wanted to know where God was in the midst of it. I was gently reminded of Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
And the best reminder that God brought to the surface every time we were in the emergency room was how life’s rivers and fires wouldn’t overtake us or consume us. He didn’t say he would make our lives perfect; he didn’t say we wouldn’t have troubled times. He did say that he would be with us. We can go on because beautiful things can be found among the devastation of unforeseen circumstances. We can practice gratitude and still be broken and real because God gave us our Savior. But also consider gratitude as a path toward increased happiness and well-being.
The latest research shows the benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude experience more positive emotions, sleep better, reduces anxiety and depression, have strong immune systems, and the list goes on. The biggest benefit of practicing gratitude is how it rewires our brain. Also, at the neurochemical level, gratitude acts as a catalyst for neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine—the ones that manage our emotions, anxiety, and immediate stress responses.
We are all feeling pandemic fatigue. More than ever, we need a dose of optimism and resilience—and there is no better prescription for this than gratitude. As we walk into the New Year, let’s shake the dust of 2020 off our feet and sweep the chaos from our hearts and create a new habit of gratitude.
Developing gratitude is a mindset but also a behavior. If you want to have an attitude of gratitude that lasts into the New Year, we have to incorporate it into our daily routine and make it a habit. Here are a few unique ways to develop your gratitude muscle.
Keep a Daily Gratitude Journal and Add to it Each Day
Write down your positive thoughts and thank God for one to three things each day. Keeping a journal of all of the things you are thankful for can help you keep track of and refer back to the positives in your life.
Ask God to Give You a Heart of Gratitude
Sometimes it is hard to find something to be grateful for. Ask God to give you a heart of gratitude. Here are five prayers and fifteen verses to get you started.
Meditate on Scriptures of Gratitude
Both gratitude and joy are biblical concepts that are beneficial gifts to the human race. When we meditate and practice these things, we can witness changes in our mentality, understanding of God, and our lives as a whole. The Bible is full of Scripture that points us to a heart of gratitude. Write these scriptures on cards and post them where you can see them.
Tell Someone You Love Them and How Much You Appreciate Them
Pass on the gift of gratitude and encouragement. Make it a point to tell people in your life how grateful you are and why.
Notice the Beauty in Nature Each Day
Get outside and notice how God painted the skies with gorgeous brushstrokes of color. Notice the landscape around you, breathe in his goodness, rekindle the awe you used to feel witnessing the beauty of this world, and give thanks.
Volunteer in Your Community and Church, Wherever There Is a Need
Giving of our time to help someone else will warm your heart because you are adding good to the world and impacting the life of another. It’s a small way to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Spend Quality Time with Your Kids, Spouse, and Friends
Put the devices away. Turn off the TV and hang out. Play a game, go for a walk, etc. Do whatever it is that will bring you face to face with these people without distractions.
Write a Card to Someone You Haven’t in a While
Who doesn’t love to get a card? It means you went to the store with them in mind and searched for the perfect card. It will warm their heart and give you a sense of accomplishment of adding good to someone else’s day.
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