Showing Gratitude to God

In church this Sunday we talked a bit about showing gratitude to God, and because I’m ME, I spent the rest of the sermon searching ye old google to see where we are at on gratitude practices. There are a few great lists out there, but nothing specific to showing it to God. Here is my contribution to making gratitude to God part of your life.

1. Showing Gratitude to Others . . .  IS Showing Gratitude to God

Because you are loving others by virtute of practicing gratitude. So if you want to practice showing your thanks to God, start with your neighbor. There are so many good tips and trips to being there for others in a gracious, time-attentive way. Be fully present, listen . . .  it’s amazing how little is required to really support another person.

2. Make Lemonade

You know that saying when life gives you lemons make lemonade? Every time something “bad” happens, I get out the strainer and get to work. Because every time you “make” goodness and light from what seems to be a miserable situation, you honor God–who does everything for our benefit. You can only unlock the sweetness of that lemon by getting to work, it’s not different than life’s pratfalls.

3. Acknowledge Every Blessing

Literally, EVERY parking spot I find near the front, every fast-moving line in the grocery store, the delicious sweet potato I had for dinner, all God’s blessings! Yes, this may sound ridiculous, but I feel better revealing in every good and perfect thing the father gives me. Why? Because life is made up of these moments! It’s not a big promotion (or lack thereof) that fill the hours. It’s going to the grocery store to get milk, or running out to put another can in the recycling bin. So move through every moment recognizing that there is nothing “small” about your big life you live in Christ. Feeling gratitude in every moment makes it special. So stop and appreciate it!

There you have it, some new ways to show gratitude to God, and it ain’t even Thanksgiving yet!