Using God’s Word As A Guide To Gratitude
How my Life Verse Prepared Me for a Thankful November
By Chrissie Kenaston
Turkeys. Football. Parades. Black Friday. November brings to mind all these things, but for me, gratitude reigns supreme. Especially this year, I think a focus on being thankful will serve us all.
It’s easy to get swept up in all the negativity and spend every day feeling like you’ve been dealt a tough hand. Maybe you have! But I guarantee there are still things to be grateful for.
What do we have to be thankful for in 2020, a year that has taken so much away from us and left many feeling lost and hopeless?
Going back to my circumstances, what is true? My children are safe at home with me. What is noble? The teachers who never stop trying to make this situation work for the kids. What is right? Learning to ease up on my rigid schedule and bend a little for my kids’ needs. What is pure? Watching my kids’ eyes light up as they grasp a new concept. What is lovely? Spending more time together as a family. What is admirable? Watching my husband pick up the slack around the house because I have less time for cleaning. What is excellent? My kids’ ability to adapt to this new way of learning. What is praiseworthy? The way teachers and parents are coming together to figure out what works best for everyone.
Whenever I’m struggling, I turn to the Word of God for guidance and comfort. And for this particular challenge, I knew exactly where to turn: Philippians 4:8 NIV, my life verse.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” That verse gives us clear directions on how to find gratitude in our daily lives! We need to focus our thoughts on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. That’s where we’ll find things to be grateful for. My biggest challenge this season involves having my children at home every day instead of heading off to school. I work from home, so there’s the struggle of finding time to get my work done when there’s never any peace in my house. And I don’t possess that “teacher gene,” so I often feel like I’m failing my children as I struggle to help them learn at home. 50 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 49
Can you take Philippians 4:8 and apply it to your situation? I encourage you to do the exercise and find each piece of the verse in your current struggle. When you’re done, you’ll feel so much gratitude for the good that is coming out of your difficulty! Yes, there is good coming out of it, no matter how bad it seems. Romans 8:28 NIV says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ALL things! That means your current challenge, too.
