I have a friend who is the sole caregiver for her 106-year-old mother. Her mother has some clarity of mind and can manage some of her own personal issues, but nevertheless requires quite a bit of care and cannot be left alone. In addition, my friend's daughter has been diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer — but has already fought it off longer than expected — and her son has other serious issues.

The pressure is intense, but she decided to start each day by recording five blessings and five prayer requests. We hold Bible study at her house so she can be near her mom, and she told us last week that this practice has made a huge difference in her attitude and thought patterns. She looks back in her journal and sees how she has been blessed and how prayers have been answered, especially as her daughter continues to fight the cancer.

One such answer had us all laughing. She hasn't been able to go to church because she has to be with her mom, but a neighbour offered to watch Mom on Sunday. She announced that God had sent her a person who attends church on Saturday so she could go to church on Sunday! God also provided the means to pay for a caregiver five mornings a week so she can run errands and visit her daughter who lives nearby.

After she told us about this, I decided to start the same practice. Each morning, I think about the previous day and what blessings occurred. Some of them are small, like finally getting the right paint colour for touching up my walls. Others are larger, like the great sermon my pastor preached on Sunday. Then, I record requests for friends' healing, support for family members or myself, or any other need that has crossed my path. It forces me to think in different patterns.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV)

Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (ESV)

Recording our blessings and requests is a powerful tool to help us grow in our faith. Since it's private, we can be honest with God. Also, writing keeps the mind from wandering. And as we write, other blessings and requests will come to mind. There's something about putting pen or pencil to paper that helps the mind to think.

Whether in a fancy journal, a simple notebook from the dollar store, or a file on a computer, let's commit to starting this new year recording our blessings and requests. Just think what a wonderful time we'll have at the end of 2025 looking back at how we have been blessed and how God has answered our prayers!

Prayer: Father, thank You that You listen to us as we pour out our hearts to You. Amen.