The Thankful Journal ~
What does God’s Word say is His Will for His children?
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB1995)
To rejoice and give thanks are a beautiful form of prayer that keep us abiding in the Lord’s presence, especially when we realize that giving thanks is God’s will for us.
It’s a tremendous sacrifice to feel grateful when we’re in pain or experiencing myriad storms that seem overwhelming. I used to be struck by David’s verse in Psalm 27
“For in the time of trouble (Yahweh) shall hide me in His pavilion: In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.
And now shall mine head be lifted up, Above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle *sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Yahweh.”
Psalm 27:5-6
When I fell and suffered a fractured humerus I was in agony. I can tell you right now I did not rejoice nor was I thankful. I did pray however, but was not a happy soul.
The Lord reminded me about His will for me to be thankful, to stop complaining, and to find at least five things to be thankful for.
Every day He shows me that it is so important to find things to be thankful for in our lives and to offer God gifts of gratitude for His mercy and grace towards us. Otherwise, it is all too easy to slip into a bog of pessimism and negativity when in chronic pain. This is why He led me to create a Thankful Journal to add to our Shop. By keeping a Thankful Journal we can think about and record all that we truly have to be grateful for and we will see that God has indeed not left us out of His blessings.
When we find ourselves in a negative situation, it truly does help to think about whatever good thing can we find in it.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8 NASB1995)
The passage from Philippians 4:8 could form the outline of our journal: starting with, …What is true about my situation today ~ that I can find to be thankful for ?
While weeping in the hospital after I broke my arm, the Lord spoke softly to my heart. He asked me to consider how things might have been worse. I was not going to need surgery, I could rejoice and give thanks, for miraculously the Lord had spared me from also breaking my hip and neck as well as my arm, given the severity of my fall…on and on the Lord pointed out His mercies…
Though I still hurt, I knew Jesus was with me and His presence comforted me.
When I focused on whatever things are true, I realized I had a lot of blessings to be thankful for. God truly had not forsaken me, though when I had dwelt on my fall and pain, it didn’t seem as if I had anything to be thankful for, and the Lord seemed an eternity away.
But when I forced myself to pause and examine whatsoever things are true, I could see clearly the truth of God’s presence in my suffering. He would be with me in whatever circumstance I had to face on the path He put me on. I could be thankful that no matter what I might suffer, God’s word promises that the Lord loves me very much and that He will never leave or forsake me. “…for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”” Hebrews 13:5-6 NASB1995
Jesus promised before He ascended into Heaven, “I Am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” (*Matthew 28:20)
Psalm 107 reminds us, “O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: For His mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalm 107:1-2, 15 KJV
It is good idea to keep a thanksgiving journal to remind us to ponder over the myriad ways God has blessed us in our lives and to offer Him our prayers of thanksgiving.
No matter how we make a Thanksgiving Journal, I encourage everyone to use one. For a thanksgiving journal offers us a written record of the Lord’s faithfulness which will strongly motivate our faith every time we look back on it.
Gratitude is an effective way of keeping our hearts before the Lord, abiding in His will, and maintaining an attitude of joy despite our outward circumstances. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Thankful Journal
Lined filler paper
5 ½” inches x 8 ½” inches
80 pages