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“The grateful heart that springs forth in joy is not acquired in a moment; it is the fruit of a thousand choices.”
~Nancy Leigh DeMoss
As I have been reading through Nancy’s book, Choosing Gratitude, I am being changed. God is awakening in my heart a new understanding of gratitude and a desire to give thanks in all things. It isn’t an easy choice to give thanks when things are rough. And how often we forget to give thanks even when things are going well!
But when the days seem dark, making the choice to give thanks rather than give vent to negative words or attitudes can change the whole atmosphere, even bringing us into the very presence of God.
“Gratitude is a lifestyle. A hard-fought, grace-infused, biblical lifestyle.”
Taking the time to create a “blessings journal,” or a “gratitude notebook,” has been so beneficial to me lately. Writing down the definition of gratitude, daily recalling blessings and kindnesses and gifts, copying verses that speak of thankfulness…it has all been very good. So soul-nurturing.
Every afternoon as my little one goes down for his nap and the other children find occupations that don’t require my assistance (usually!), I sit down with my Bible and notebook. It is just so good! It’s easy to let this kind of soul-searching get pushed aside for other activities, but it is so necessary. I have my regular Bible reading time, but this afternoon time with my “gratitude study” is really feeding me spiritually in a way I was desperately needing (even though I didn’t even realize it until I started!).
My daughter saw me making my journal and said she wished she could do that. I’m planning to help the children make a blessings journal of their own–a place where they can daily count all the blessings that come to them and remind them to be thankful to the Lord who gives every good gift.
“Could you, therefore, work miracles, you could not do more for yourself than by this thankful spirit; for it heals with a word speaking, and turns all that it touches into happiness.”
~ William Law, quoted in Choosing Gratitude
I have so enjoyed reading all your comments. Thank you for sharing about your journals and the ways you live out gratitude in your own lives.
Just today I had an opportunity to choose to have a thankful heart (after hearing some discouraging news), and it took away the negative feeling I was having and replaced it with a feeling of joy and hope. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His grace and peace!
What a neat idea!!! I'm going to start something like that. It is amazing how you can have such a different outlook when you are thankful and have a heart full of gratitude even for the "little" things. 🙂
I use a regular notebook to record what God is teaching, put prayer requests & praises but I never thought of making a separate journal just for blessings. I love the idea. Thank you!
~Stacy
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, everyone! Have a blessed rest of the week!
I have been pondering starting something similar to this idea of yours. Thanks so much for sharing! I'm inspired. 🙂
Blessings, ~Lisa
It is consciously…it is awareness…it is completely focusing on the One that provides Everything !
Thank you for sharing Joy. The cards are so pretty.
Maria
Wonderful post. Gratitude really is the way to true joy and lasting contentment. xx
Hi Miss Joy~
I think that a Blessing Journal is a great idea. Maybe that is what I should make for my family for Thanksgiving. Blessings~
This is a wonderful idea, Joy! And I am glad that it has been such a blessing to you already. And by the way, your journal is beautiful! 🙂
As I've said before my spiritual path is different to yours but nevertheless we have things in common. I give thanks every day for 'all the beauty and the gifts of the earth and sky' and I'm grateful also for many other things. When things are not going well in life it's a real help to be able to appreciate a wonderful sunset or the colours of the changing leaves and other things that are always there regardless of personal circumstances. I don't keep a journal but it's a great idea to do so.