June has been a crazy month. Full of the uncertain, the unknown, and at times downright scary moments. It has been a month full of travel, health problems galore, and big decisions to be made. It’s been a month of once again, learning to give thanks in the midst of the craziness.
It’s been a month of being reminded to give thanks, always, because thankfulness is a form of worship. To tell God that I am thankful, despite what is going on around me, is an expression of faith and trust.
One day, when I was struggling, my sister told me that she has learned that there are times you need to say, “Thank you, Lord, for what you are going to provide.”
That struck me and is something I’ve been trying to put into practice.
Being Thankful for What God is Going to Provide
So I’ve been taking the time to say “Lord, I have no idea why this is happening, how it is going to all work out, or what my next step is going to be, but I am choosing to be thankful for what you are going to provide.”
It is also a time to say thank you, Lord, for what you have been doing and what you are doing right here, right now.
My morning walks have been times of quiet that have allowed me to pray and let God know what I am thinking and feeling. It is a time to admit that I am scared and that I am releasing all the issues weighing on my mind, one-by-one, into His more than capable hands.
Being Thankful & Slowing Down
Once I have taken that step, in faith, once I have said thank you, there is a weight that is lifted off my shoulders. I can stand up straighter, I can breathe again, and I can slow down the racing thoughts in my head.
In Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts Devotional, she talks about having a spot reserved in her home where she has a notebook or journal open where she can add grace notes throughout the day. Moments she is thankful for, moments that touch her heart, and moments she wants to remember.
Having a list like that you can refer to is an incredible way to have a visible reminder of how God provides for you in the little ways, the be still moments, and the seemingly mundane.
There are times when my prayer of thankfulness and surrender is something I need to repeat throughout the day, sometimes MANY times, but each time I do, my heart is changed, my mind calms and my worries start to abate.
What an incredible gift and opportunity for us to give thanks and find stillness in the midst of whatever is going on in our lives.
My encouragement for both you and me is to start a list of gratitude and thankfulness. Create a special place for you to record small moments that remind you of grace, of provision, and assurance. These are precious gifts that we can easily take for granted and easily forget.
Begin a list of personal grace notes and start to find stillness by giving thanks.
Marta Goertzen is an entrepreneur, writer, WordPress Website developer, and nature photographer. She daily explores the trails and beaches of the South Central Oregon Coast with her dogs Oliver & Mochi. You can follow along on their adventures on Instagram. Marta also fully believes that change starts with gratitude and that gratitude can change everything. Find out how with the “Grateful Friday 7-Days of Gratitude Starter Kit”
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Thanks Marta for this article. It resonated with me, especially this little snippet: “but I am choosing to be thankful for what you are going to provide.” I am eager to give thanks for what I have received, but so often when I don’t see the active working of God, I assume I’ve been skipped over. Remaining steadfast in the knowledge that He is always present and working, is key to my inner peace. AND thanking him in advance for HIS answer yet to come–is a moment of faith–believing (yet not) seeing the outcome He has orchestrated. (Hebrews 11:1)Thanks for bringing me back to this central truth.
Hi Linda,
Yes it is definitely a central truth and a discipline. It is a choice to be believe and at times even ask as the Centurion asked, “help me overcome my unbelief.”
Thank you for stopping by!!