Spiritual Focus for November

Giving Thanks

An attitude of gratitude 

November is a time for cool crisp weather and  leaves changing from green to red, orange and yellow.  It is a time for football, raking leaves and fires in the fireplace.  It is also a time for turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie.  But most importantly it is a time when we take time to “Give Thanks.”  Our nation sets aside one day to give thanks.  However, as people of God, we should have a continual attitude of gratitude. 

This month we want to be more intentional with our attitude of gratitude.  Keeping a gratitude journal is one way to do this. Another way would be to spend your drive time talking to God about all you are thankful for.  You could also write God a Thanksgiving letter.  Is there a person whose friendship you are thankful for?  Is there a teacher who placed in your heart a love or curiosity that has become your vocation?  Write them a letter.  Look for opportunities to be grateful.

We are usually pretty good at thanking God for the biggies, such as the gift of his Son, or the healing of a loved one.  But we also need to remember to thank Him for the little things, like getting all green lights on the way to work, or chocolate. 

Let's also remember to thank Him for the things we take for granted, such as sunshine, and good stable earth beneath our feet.

Here are a few more things you can consider adding to your thankfulness list:

1.    Give thanks for the Triune God, His character and His deeds.

2.    Give thanks for the your family and their impact in your life.

3.    Give thanks for the friends God has put in your life, and for those individuals known and unknown that He has put in your path.

4.    Give thanks for God’s creation, and for those “things”, big and small, that god has put in your life. 

5.    Give thanks for the gifts and talents God has given you, how He has developed your character, and the miracles He has performed in your life.  It will be easy to see the significant miracles, and you should give thanks for those.  But you should also pay attention to those other small coincidences in life that could also be God at work.