A month of gratitude! Let’s focus on gratitude throughout the month of November. I challenge you to look around and be more aware of the blessings in your life. And each day write down at least five things you are thankful for.

Maybe this one seems obvious. But I feel at times we forget to be thankful for God. I don’t want to take Him for granted. But I fear I do some days. I know He is always there for me. I know He is watching over me. I know He sends blessings my way. But do I stop and praise Him? Do I take the time to thank Him? Not always. And when I think about it, it makes me sad. I want to change that. I want to appreciate our heavenly Father more. Not just for all He does, but because of who He is.

I believe if we were consistent about praising the Lord and His Holy Name, this alone would remove many of the complaints and worries in our lives. What is there to complain about, when we fully realize just how much God blesses us each and every day? What is there to worry about, when we know our Father is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords, and He is watching over us? Fully immersing ourselves in the knowledge of just how awesome He is will change our perspective.

Let’s take a look closer look at some of God’s characteristics:

• God is love (1 John 4:8)
• The Lord is our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
• He is our rock, our fortress, and our savior (Psalm 18:2)
• God is merciful (Deuteronomy 4:31)
• The Lord is our strength (Psalm 28:7)
• He is with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9)
• God is our light and our salvation (Psalm 27:1)
• The Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)
• He is our refuge (Psalm 46:1)
• God is righteous (Psalm 11:7)
• The Lord is forgiving (Psalm 86:5)
• Great is God’s faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23)
• The Lord is great and there is no one like Him (2 Samuel 7:22)
• He does not change (Malachi 3:6)
• God’s steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 106:1)

When I look over this list and see just how amazing our God is, it leaves me in awe. It makes me want to praise Him and glorify Him. And perhaps you feel the same way? So take some time today to praise God for His goodness and mercy and love. I will leave you with Psalm 100. This one is near and dear to my heart because it is one of the Psalms that my grandmother had memorized before she went to be with the Lord. But it is also a wonderful Psalm to read if you want to grow in gratitude.

Psalm 100 (NIV)
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

(I will be sharing similar gratitude related posts here each Thursday of this month. So be sure to visit again. And on the first four Saturdays of this month, I will be sharing similar gratitude related posts on my author website. If you want to read last Saturday’s post, click here.)

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