Day #323 - The Spiritual Discipline of Thanksgiving
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 NIV
What would you say is the most important spiritual discipline in your life right now?
If you are not familiar with the term spiritual discipline or spiritual practice, is a term used to describe the habits that Christians should cultivate in their lives to grow spiritually. The spiritual disciplines are not a means of earning or striving, but are simply tools, graces and gifts that God has given us to renew our minds, develop spiritually and grow closer to God. The most popular spiritual disciplines are Bible reading and prayer. They also include worship, fasting, taking Sabbath, silence, solitude, giving, serving and more. But I think that sadly, many Christians don’t practice thanksgiving as an important spiritual discipline.
Now most Christians that pray or worship regularly will most likely include thanksgiving in their time of prayer and worship. And being thankful definitely belongs in those times. We do also see repeated instruction throughout the Scriptures to practice thanksgiving. Paul said in the context of prayer to the Colossians that they were to be devoted to prayer in watchfulness and thanksgiving. I believe our prayer times should be saturated with thankfulness. Its not a bad idea to spend more time in prayer being thankful than asking for things.
I love what G.K. Chesterton said about being thankful: “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” I agree that thanks is the highest form of thought. A thankful life is a life caught up in God’s wonder and a life lived in “the Presence.”
We can cultivate growth in thankfulness by making it a discipline. A discipline does not mean there is no delight, but simply means to intentional about it. You could take a day of the week to focus on gratitude and thankfulness while you take a Sabbath rest. You could write daily about one to three things you are thankful for in a gratitude journal like my Mom. Or one minister I look up to, Doug String, you could spend two times in prayer everyday. One is to express gratitude and then in a separate time ask God for your needs and the needs of others.
Lord Jesus, let me develop of life of thanksgiving and gratitude. I want to be thankful everyday. May my life overflow with gratitude for who You are and all You have done for me. By Your grace, I devote myself to prayer in watchfulness and thankfulness. In Your mighty name Jesus, amen!
Thank You Heavenly Father for letting me be in Your Presence Always Lord God and bask in Your Glorious Peace!!! : )
Such a great reminder about such an important spiritual practice - and so easy to do! So easy to be thankful that we forget to be thankful! God forgive us, and help us always to be Your thankful, joyful children!