Before Thanksgiving, focus on cooking, cleaning the house, and making your guests feel welcome. Now that the leftovers are gone, work is gone, and the dishes are washed, it may not be easy to maintain an attitude of gratitude after the Thanksgiving holiday. It can be hard to see the blessings of a world that is more fixated on consumerism than enjoying the holiday season. But Jesus embodied gratitude not just for one day, but throughout the year.
Gratitude is an attitude, not an action. When our attitude reflects Christ and focuses on the joy and contentment of all things around us, we can truly embody gratitude and remain grateful even after the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are five ways to remember to be grateful after Thanksgiving.
keep a diary
Gratitude journals are becoming increasingly popular, and their purpose is to keep our attitude focused on Christ rather than seasonal consumerism. While it’s nearly impossible not to buy presents, decorate your home, or attend your church’s Christmas pageant, you can keep your eyes focused on Christ at the beginning and end of your day.
During your morning quiet time, take time to count your blessings. Set a timer and write down 50 things you’re grateful for. If 50 is too much in between, set smaller goals like 20 or 30. You don’t have to write complete sentences to keep this gratitude journal. Instead, use bullet points and write down your blessings on one line each.
At the end of the day, reflect on what you wrote. Are there any other things you can add that God has given you throughout the day? Please add them to the list. The next morning, start the list again. Research shows that starting your day with gratitude can help you develop a more positive outlook. The enemy wants us to focus on the negative. By focusing on the positive, we can keep our eyes fixed on Christ and the blessings He brings.
perform random acts of kindness
When you focus on yourself instead of others, you create a life that revolves around you. This means being self-absorbed and focusing only on your own difficult situation. Soon you may find yourself doing everything at the risk of your own personal motives. But random acts of kindness shift the focus from yourself to others. Pledge to do one act of kindness a day.
It could be as simple as writing a note congratulating someone for the impact they’ve had on your life. You can also volunteer at a food pantry or pay someone’s bill at the store. If you are having trouble finding ways to bless others, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you throughout your day. Ask God if there is someone He wants you to bless. No matter what you feel you hear from the Spirit, be careful to obey it. The more you commit to following the work of the Holy Spirit, the more you will be in tune with Him and the more you will act according to His will.
First, think back to the acts of kindness that have been done for you over the past year or the past few years. How did you feel when someone cared enough to do an act of service for you? Consider that feeling as you brainstorm ways to bless others. Let others feel the same way you feel when someone does something nice for you.
If you need help, take some time to brainstorm ideas in your journal. Carry that journal with you and remind yourself of the actions you took throughout the day or week. Even if you don’t start on December 1st, start with the current day and work your way from there. Even the smallest act of kindness is better than nothing. You will also notice that your attitude has improved a lot since you started working on this idea.
At the end of the month, reflect on how you felt during that act of kindness. Were these acts of kindness appreciated? How did it make you feel? Did you feel better when you did the act behind the scenes? Analyze your thoughts and heart. If you wish you had been recognized for your actions, you may be more selfish than you realize.
Evangelize the Lost
There is nothing like winning someone to Christ. There is no greater feeling than when someone recognizes and acknowledges their need for a Savior and surrenders their life to Christ. Those who have been saved will remind you of the real reason for your gratitude. We love because God first loved us. We are called to go into the Word and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Start a journal and pray for those who don’t know Christ. By regularly reminding ourselves of the privilege of knowing God, we can remain eternally grateful. When God answers your prayers, and He does. You will have no problem maintaining an attitude of gratitude.
please be an example
Jesus never walked around proclaiming gratitude. Rather, Jesus was the example. He prayed to his father and made it a priority. He did his work of service not about himself but about others. Because he walked with the Spirit, he exemplified the fruit of the Spirit. He didn’t need to tell anyone about himself. He let his ministry do that.
If we are who we say we are, we will naturally become lights of Christ. We need to be people who embody the Holy Spirit, not a false spirit of cynicism and criticism. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your life that are not aligned with Him. You may be surprised at what God is saying. Listen and repent. Repentance is the key to living a life worthy of Christ. Become a natural embodiment of Christ.
have a sense of mission
Jesus didn’t need to be told to be a missionary. That was part of his mindset. His ministry was outward-looking. Jesus planned his entire ministry around reaching out to the lost, preaching, delivering people from demons, and healing the sick. He knew what his ministry was and was not afraid to do it. Above all, his life was unselfish and selfless.
Similarly, we need to organize our lives around the work of the Spirit. We would be much better off if we spent most of our time thinking about others rather than ourselves. However, this naturally takes time. Every commercial on TV teaches you to practice self-care, and every book teaches you how to set healthy boundaries with others.
But this is not what Jesus taught. He taught us to be reconciled to each other. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he taught us to live in peace with all people. Jesus understood God’s mission and built his entire ministry around it. However, most churches have a self-centered ministry rather than an outward-facing one.
Think of ways to start a service that helps others in your community or around the world. What would you like to see? How can you provide tangible support to change the world? Partner with organizations to do what you can. The more you focus on the outside, the less you focus on the inside.
It’s easy to be grateful on Thanksgiving, but it’s hard to remain grateful throughout the year. Try the suggestions above or create your own and become the grateful person God wants you to be.
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Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother. She is a literary agent with Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spiritual Reset podcast. Her new children’s book, Hall of Faith, encourages children to understand that God can be trusted. When I’m not working, I enjoy drinking Starbucks lattes, collecting 80’s memorabilia, and spending time with my family and dog. For more information, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
