I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday and was able to take time and give thanks to their family and friends and even to family members that we may have lost. But always remember to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for everything that He provides for us. So from Colossians chapter 3 verse 17, “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Sometimes the point of Christianity gets relegated to going to church, saying a prayer before a meal, and maybe reading the Bible from time to time. Those are all great and should be elements of one's faith. But according to the verse above, our whole selves are to reflect a picture of what Jesus is actually like. And everything we do and say should lead toward gratitude.

This seems like an impossible task. But there's actually a science to this. As humans practice being thankful in their mind and in their speech, it actually rewires pathways in our brain in a way that trains them to live their whole lives through a lens of gratitude. Consider keeping a journal of thankfulness or verbally practicing gratitude one or two times per day with the people in your life and see if it changes anything within you. You may be the person in their lives who can be the best picture of Jesus for them. Don't take that lightly. Always give thanks to everyone around you, no matter what the circumstance, but also give thanks to your heavenly Father.

So let me finish out with a prayer for us. God, train my thoughts and speech to be grateful so I reflect the heart and character of Jesus. Always allow me to be thankful and grateful for all that you provided for me. Father, you are the one true merciful God. I praise these things in all of your name, in Jesus' name. Amen.