Remember (list out) specific ways God has shown His goodness to you and redeemed you out of trouble, and give thanks to the LORD for his goodness and love in your life.
Psalm 107:1-2 - Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble…
Thank God for the victory you have in Christ over sin, darkness, and death. This is a true spiritual reality even if it is not something you fully see or feel in your life yet. Thank Him for victory in Jesus, and from the place of victory seek to live it out!
1 Corinthians 15:56-58 - The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Ask for a growing heart of thanksgiving even in difficult circumstances you may be facing. Through giving thanks, ask Him to align you to His will and fan to flame the gift of the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.
Give thanks for specific brothers and sisters in Christ, and for the work of God being done in them and through them. Thank God for His work in and through Antioch Lake Cities.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 - We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
With thanksgiving, acknowledge the presence of the LORD in your life, in your family, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Ask God to make you one who is overflowing with thanksgiving in everything you do, word and deed. That you would become known as the most thankful person among those you are around on a regular basis.
Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Specific Ideas for cultivating a thankful heart this month…
Thankfulness journal - each day write down 3-5 things you are thankful to God for in life.
Introduce a family song of thanksgiving which you can sing together regularly. (i.e. Doxology, Thank You (For All That You’ve Done), 10,000 Reasons, etc)
Memorize some Scripture verses about giving thanks
Identify a topic, circumstance, or thing and list out specific reasons you are thankful to God (our house, family, school, etc) - this is good practice for thinking deeper!