My Thank-You Journal

Psalm 50:23 “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” (NIV)*

My Thank-You Journal (C.R. Gibson**)

Blinded by our own issues, sometimes we just don’t see what we have. When we do see it, we tend to be more grateful…more content.

Two years ago someone recommended the blog, http://www.aholyexperience.com by Ann Voskamp. In her blog and book, One Thousand Gifts, she encourages making an ongoing list of daily gifts. This small act of numbering God’s blessings lifted me out of a mental funk.

To date, my next blessing will be #2654. Nothing is too small for my thank-you journal which I keep on the kitchen counter with a pen.

Some samples are: #86 coffee dripping warm, #1083 ordering pizza, #1910 Sunday nap.

Writing out daily blessings magnifies what’s in front of our face. It puts the brain on alert–anticipating the goodness of the Lord.

Just as negativity can become habit-forming, so too can thankfulness…if cultivated. The landscape may not change, but our view of it can. I’m not talking about denying reality, but seeing what we have.

Once we see what we have, we can be thankful. Thankfulness prepares the soil of the heart, softens and readies it for God to work.

Go ahead, try it. Start numbering the daily gifts and in a few weeks, see if your eyes are not opened and your heart softened. Thank God…and thank Ann Voskamp!

*The One Year Bible, New International Version, copyright 1986, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois.

**C.R. Gibson, LLC, 402 BNA Drive, Nashville, TN 37217, GM93-9458, copyright Joy Hall