Every Good Gift
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)
It is easy to find things to complain about, but what if you spent the year tracking the good gifts God has given you? This resource is designed to help develop a purposeful and consistent way to give thanks. You can take a moment at the end of each day or week to write down your gratitude in the form of a prayer or as a simple list. Use the categories below to help you remember all that you have to be thankful for.
God’s Character & Promises
God’s Word (both the Living Word and written) is His revelation of Himself to us. God equates knowing Him with eternal life, and we will spend eternity continuing to learn and enjoy our great God. That process starts right here on earth as we breathe in the truth of His Word and breathe back our response to Him in prayer. God, Himself is our greatest gift, and as believers, we can be assured that He will never leave us. What truth about Himself did He bring to your attention today or this week? What promise has been especially sweet? What part of His Word has fed your soul?
Gospel Relationships
We are able to enjoy loving human relationships because of God’s gift of love to us. He has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus and given us the wonderful privilege of sharing that Good News with others. He makes unity in Christ possible. All relationships are a fruit of the Gospel (family in Christ) or a Gospel opportunity. Who are you thankful for this week? Did you have opportunities to share Gospel truth with the lost or another brother or sister in Christ? Did you get the chance to partner with another believer in Gospel work?
God’s Provision
Every good gift comes from above (James 1), and these gifts include so many things we take for granted each day. From the air that we breathe to the roof over our heads, we have much for which to be thankful. Our physical bodies, mental capacities, health, food, vehicles, finances, and daily comforts are all good gifts from a good God. Can you think of any provision from God you might have forgotten to thank Him for this week? What opportunities to share those gifts did God bless you with?
Everyday Beauty
God’s creation is astoundingly beautiful even in its corrupted state. What did you hear, see, feel, smell, taste, or touch today or this week that allowed you to enjoy God’s beauty? Be careful not to limit your standard of beauty to the world’s perspective. God is the source of all that is beautiful, pure, and good.
Fruit Bearing Opportunities
God is carefully pruning our lives and using every circumstance to transform us into the image of His dear Son. This is the “for everything” for which we should be thankful. Have you thanked God for that difficult relationship that is teaching you about patience and God’s unconditional love? Have you thanked God for that circumstance that is making you more dependent on the Spirit instead of your flesh? Have you given thanks for that trial that is building endurance and long-suffering?
Make Your Own Gratitude Jar
Label & 5×7 Print: The label is designed to be printed on a sticker or adhesive paper and placed on whatever container you desire to hold your notes of gratitude. The 5×7 print can be added to a frame with no need of removing adhesive backing and is designed to simply give prompts and Scriptural proof texts for each category.
Gratitude Cards: There are two templates included. One has lines to write your gratitude in the form of a prayer or as a simple list. The other includes icons that represent all 5 categories. Print as many copies as desired or simply use blank paper or card stock.
Hard Copy Gratitude Journal
Spend the next 90 days reframing the way you view your circumstances, relationships, and possessions. This journal is designed to help you make the intentional choice to thank God for every good gift He has given you–even those gifts of perceived inconvenience and real difficulty. Each day there will be space to write a word or phrase of thanksgiving for God’s character and promises, possessions He has entrusted to you, Gospel relationships, the beauty that surrounds you, and fruit-bearing opportunities (the hard stuff). You will also be prompted to think of ways that you can give generously to others out of the abundance you have received.