Give Thanks!

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy  Psalm 126:3

I wish each of you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.  

One night last week I was having trouble sleeping.  I tossed and turned, got up and read, tossed and turned some more...frustrating!  Usually I will pray as well.  It's a good time to be quiet with God.  Then God spoke something to my heart that I had not considered before. 

Most people have heard the expression of "counting sheep" when you have trouble falling asleep.  But the Lord gave me another idea.  He "told" me to go through my house, room by room (this is in my mind, not physically) and think about things I'm thankful for there. Count my blessings!  In my bedroom, my husband, my comfy bed and soft blankets.....Then I moved onto other rooms.  The kitchen where we had enough to eat.....my office where I meet with the Lord, my Bible, books.....On and on I went until I drifted off.  I gave thanks specifically.  Down to the smallest details of each room.  Things that made me smile, that I could do in each room....

In thinking about this throughout the following days I realized it can be expanded even further.  In your mind you can take a walk outside, giving thanks for various things in nature.  You can "go" to your church, your job, your town....wherever and find the things to be thankful for in those places.  

This isn't just an exercise in sleep therapy, but an honor to our Father that we our grateful to all He provides.  You can even take yourself to Heaven and focus on the reasons to be thankful there.  Walk back in time to when Jesus was here on earth and pick out the things you are thankful for about Him and what He did.  So many, many blessings to remember.  Large, small, people, things, experiences, animals, God's grace and mercy.  Get specific.  And this doesn't have to just be done as a way to fall asleep.  Any time during the day is a good time to give thanks!  

So give thanks!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow. 

Lord, all good things come from You.  All the blessings in our lives are gifts You bestow.  Even the hard times contain Your blessings.  We thank You for all of them.  But most of all we thank You for You.  For Your love, Your kindness, Your mercy and Your salvation.  No one is more blessed than Your people!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!  I am thankful for you.