Sometimes when we are under stress it’s hard to see anything to be grateful for. Maybe you overslept because your alarm clock didn’t wake you or perhaps you had repeated nightmares or maybe one of your kids was up sick all night.
Psalm 100: 4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” On the mornings it’s hardest to praise God or practice gratitude, that’s when it’s most important that you do it! If you’re struggling to be grateful, try one of these activities:
Journal. Dial into your five senses and use them to help you journal. Make a list like “I’m grateful that I can hear…” then list 4-5 things you can hear right now. For example, you might put the birds chirping outside your bedroom window, your child’s laughter, or the hiss of your coffee pot as it brews.
Create a gratitude jar. Each morning, take a second to write down something you’re grateful for. Focus on just one thing and write it down on a slip of paper. Put your slip into your gratitude jar. Then at the end of the year, you’ll be able to read through 365 things you gave thanks for.
Practice the ABCs of gratitude. You can do this exercise anywhere and it doesn’t require much time. Simply start listing what you’re grateful for by letter. For example, you might say, “I’m grateful for the cool morning Air, the warmth of my Bed, the feel of my soft Clothes, etc”.
God, help me to use the mornings to focus on my blessings. That way, I can approach each day with a grateful heart and a thankful spirit.
