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January is the time of the year that many people start a new diet or establish New Year’s Resolutions. Some of those resolutions are for improvement in our physical health. And others are spiritual goals: reading through the Bible, praying as a family while driving in the car... As each year comes to a close, the time of evaluation and reflection begins.
However, for me, this process begins at the beginning of November. In the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The practice of giving thanks then pervades the month and sets the tone for my attitude and reflections. It is a spiritual reset, which includes the resolution to first and always give thanks.
Even before the last trip of the year is complete, my focus is on an attitude of gratitude. And as I return home, usually mid-November when my travel winds down, I begin to assess how things have gone during the past year. End-of-year reporting and next-year planning characterize much of my thoughts and take up my time, but this takes places in the month of November—the month of thanks.
I am grateful that the rhythm of Iron Rose Sister Ministries allows for this evaluation process to coincide with the month of November and an emphasis on giving thanks. Because no matter what else happens the rest of the month, year, or decade, God is in control and we are best reminded of His countless blessings, faithful provision, wise guidance, and constant communion with Him, by giving thanks.
Whether or not you have followed this practice in the past, please join us in the opportunity to give thanks this month and throughout the next year. The month is not over and we can all use the reminder to spiritually “reset” our thinking by giving thanks.
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In Scripture, we see “thanks,” as a word and as a concept, take on various forms. In the Old Testament, it is more often translated as “praise.” Whether in the Old or New Testament, we see the words:
Thanks.
Gratitude.
Praise.
Grateful.
Appreciation.
And we see these words in the contexts of a
Psalm.
Offering.
Prayer.
Song.
In his book, Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman highlights that there are multiple ways to express and receive love. Similarly, thanksgiving can take on various forms:
A verbal expression of gratitude.
An attitude of appreciation.
A sacrificial gift.
Time spent together.
Service with a smile.
A hug or high-five.
Today, I encourage you to give an offering of praise in song to our Heavenly Father. And choose a creative way to express your thanks to someone in your life—a person with whom you haven’t expressed your gratitude recently.