Choosing Gratitude Day 30

Day 30

Galatians 5:16–24

As you launch out on a new lifestyle of 

gratitude, use today to set some goals 

for what you want God to accomplish in 

your heart, being specific about the 

ways you intend to practice ongoing 

thankfulness. For example, if you want 

to become more deliberate about 

writing thank-you notes, how many 

would you like send in a typical week or 

month? What Scriptures do you plan to 

memorize and meditate on in relation 

to thankfulness? Whom will you ask to 

hold you accountable for specific areas 

where you need to grow in the grace of 

gratitude?

Whatever mechanics it requires to get 

it up and running will soon fall away to 

the freedom of pursuing it with 

passion. Are you ready to experience 

the life-changing power of Christian 

gratitude? Then let the Lord help you 

decide what your next steps should be.

Write a simple prayer, expressing to 

the Lord your desire to develop a 

radically grateful lifestyle. Thank Him 

for His supernatural grace that will 

enable you to “abound in thanksgiving.”


I am still praying and asking the Lord to show ME specific ways in which HE wants me to focus on expressing gratitude.

I know I want to be more diligent in showing much more gratitude to my kids and husband! I want to also be conistent in thanking the women who have become mentors for me...I appreciate all their prayers and words of wisdom.

I also want to have a few key verses memorized so I can dwell on them. That is so important! 

What goals are you setting for yourself to maintain an attitude of gratitude?

Thank you for joining me on this journey of digging deeper into gratitude! You can purchase Nancy Leigh Demoss's book, Choosing Gratitude at Revive Our Hearts.

For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 29

Day 29

Deuteronomy 6:1–12

If you’ve been blessed with children, 

you know that gratitude doesn’t come 

naturally for them. But few things are 

more remarkable (and unusual) in 

children today than when they’re 

known for their thankful, contented 

spirit.

While teaching and instruction have 

their place in growing gratitude in our 

kids, the best teacher of all is our 

example. Do your children hear you 

thank your husband when he tackles a 

home repair job? Do they hear you 

express gratitude to the Lord and to 

others for both little and big things 

throughout the day?

Gratitude is more effectively caught 

than taught. How contagious are you, 

especially at home?

Sit down and talk with your children 

about the high value God places 

on gratitude. Tell them how they’re 

going to start seeing some 

“gratitudinal” changes in you. If you 

don’t have children of your own, think 

about who God has placed in your 

sphere of influence. What are you 

teaching them about gratitude by your 

lifestyle?

Honestly I'm not sure how well or not, I demonstrate gratitude to my kids. I know I teach it to them, but how well do I demonstrate it, is a whole other thing!

I don't think I express it enough to my husband, because I have caught myself thinking, "Oh, I should voice my gratitude to him about such and such." I don't think I do it enough!

I like today's challenge and want to sit down with kids...talk about what God says about gratitude (do ALL things without complaining, they hear it often...but do they see it?)...inform them that I what to demonstrate it a lot more...and ask them to help keep me accountable around the home.


Do you have children that you can demonstrate gratitude for? How will you apply this challenge to your life?


For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 28

Day 28

Philippians 1:3–11

If expressing gratitude is to become a 

way of life for us, we can’t treat it as 

an optional exercise. If it never gets 

beyond our wish list, if it nestles down 

with all the other nice things we hope 

to get around to someday, the 

“someday” of gratitude will never roll 

around on our calendars.

So I want to encourage you to think of 

gratitude as being a debt you owe, the 

same way you’re called upon to pay 

your monthly bills. Start a list 

designated as “Gratitude Accounts,” 

specific listings of individuals to whom 

you owe a debt of thanks. 


By doing this, you can make it a point 

today to make a phone call just to 

thank a friend for the way she’s shown 

her concern for you during a difficult 

time. When the Lord opens a window of 

opportunity for you to jot a quick thank-

you note this evening, you’ll have a 

ready-made list of people to choose 

from.

We all have gratitude accounts. There 

just aren’t many of us who keep them 

paid up. Make sure you’re becoming 

the type of person who stays current 

on your bill.


I do try hard to stays "current on my gratitude bill." I don't want to take anyone for granted! Thinking about it the most people I take for granted to my family.Why is it so easy to forget to show our own family members gratitude?!

My goal is to be more aware and "current on my bill" towards my family.

How are you with your gratitude accounts?




For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 27

Day 27

1 Timothy 4:11–16

As we near the end of this gratitude 

challenge, take a little quiz today to 

see where you’re growing and where 

you still need work.

Try answering these questions candidly

—not just yes or no, but with 

supporting details that come to mind:

1. Do I often complain about my circumstances, feeling like I deserve better?

1. Do others hear me voice more complaints and negative comments than words of gratitude about the typical events of daily life?

1. Would others describe me as a thankful person?

1. What evidence is there that I have a grateful or an ungrateful spirit?

1. How often do I begin statements with these words: “I am so thankful that . . .”?

1. Do I more frequently display a pessimistic, negative outlook or a positive, grateful perspective?

1. Am I reserved or eager when it comes to expressing appreciation to others?

1. My most recent expression of gratitude was …

If you haven’t done so already, 

consider taking this gratitude challenge 

into an accountability setting, letting 

others help you stay true to your 

commitment, while being there to offer 

your support to them as well.


How did you do? I did pretty good! Still have work to do though. ;) I have tried to focus on all the good and blessings God has so graciously gave me (and my family) through out everything.

I have a friend/mentor that helps keep me accountable. It's not always easy.

Do you have an accountability partner?

For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 26

Day 26

Ezra 3:8–13

On October 3, 1863, at the height of 

the Civil War, President Abraham 

Lincoln issued a Proclamation of 

Thanksgiving, calling the nation to 

observe a “day of Thanksgiving and 

Praise.” This proclamation eventually 

led to the establishing of our national 

day of Thanksgiving.

The document began by listing multiple 

blessings the nation had experienced 

through the course of the year, even in 

the midst of a severe conflict. It called 

the American people to recognize the 

Source of those blessings and to 

respond collectively to the Giver in 

gratitude, repentance, and intercession.

Today, try crafting your own 

declaration of thanksgiving. Use some 

of the insights the Lord has been 

growing in you these last few weeks. 

Incorporate some of the Scriptures that 

have particularly touched you. And 

dedicate your life to what these words 

of yours are saying.

Then share what you’ve written with 

your family or a close friend. Be an 

igniter of gratitude by encouraging 

those you love and care about to 

cultivate a thankful heart.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col. 3:15-17

I'm still writing my declaration of thanksgiving, but wanted to share the above verses. We are to find joy and be thankful in everything. I don't know about you, but I have MUCH to be thankful for!!

Now it's your turn to write your declaration of thanksgiving. What are some particular verses that help you?

For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 25

Day 25

Deuteronomy 8:1–10

Historians have differing perspectives 

in relation to the first Thanksgiving 

celebrations in America, but we know 

some details are true. We know the 

Pilgrims’ journey from Holland to 

England to the New World was 

frightfully difficult, with sickness and 

storms on the arduous, weeks-long 

voyage. We know once they arrived, 

the task of carving dwellings out of the 

forest quick enough to hold back the 

advancing effects of winter was a losing 

race against time. Nearly half of those 

who made the trip didn’t survive the 

stay.

And yet with sheer survival the order of 

each day, and with fears for their 

families an all-consuming worry, their 

writings and recorded history are filled 

with demonstrations and attitudes of 

thanksgiving.

Each Sunday—in lean times as well as 

relatively plentiful—they gathered for 

prayer, meditation, the singing of 

hymns, and a sermon. It was their 

regular practice to stop and give 

thanks to God at the outset of each 

week.


Use your prayer time today to think 

back over the history of God’s 

faithfulness in your life, your family, 

and your church. Make a list of 

desperate situations or seasons when 

you have witnessed His providential 

protection and provision.

Ha! This would have been a good one on Thanksgiving. ;) 

Hmmm...I'd have to say my family is in the middle of a desperate situation/season. :) But God has been faithful though this hard time. Here are some ways:

-God has eventually provided the funds for things we NEED. Giving my husband or I a little work here and there.
-He has provided us a place to live (even if it is my parent's finished garage. ;) ).
-There is something wrong with the van (actually at least 3 things), but he has kept it running.
-Plus family is going to help pay to get it fixed as a Christmas gift to me!
-God always provided the gas for the van that was NEEDED.
-He kept Josiah and I safe and alive through my difficult pregnancy and his premature birth.
-Plus He provided loving care for both girls while I was in the hospital.

What are some ways God has provided and protected you? I would LOVE to hear, it would be such an encouragement!

For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 24

Day 24

Ruth 2:1–13

Ruth was a woman with a humble heart

—a trait that’s a companion virtue of 

gratitude. She didn’t claim her rights. 

She didn’t insist that Boaz provide her 

a living by letting her glean in his 

fields. And because she relinquished 

her demands for certain expectations, 

she was able to be genuinely thankful 

when she actually did receive the 

blessing of his generosity.

Too many of us live with a chip on our 

shoulder, as if the world owes us 

something. “You ought to do this for 

me. You ought to serve me. You ought 

to meet my needs.” But the humble 

heart—the grateful heart—says, “I 

don’t deserve this, and it’s an amazing 

act of grace that you should minister to 

my needs.”

Ruth just went out to serve with a 

humble, thankful heart. And as a 

result, God made sure her needs were 

met. He’ll do the same for you.

Who do you know who consistently 

exhibits a grateful spirit? What is it 

about them that makes them so 

remarkable? What can you learn from 

their example?

A particular story came to mind as I was reading this. I wont get into details but this woman was upset at something that happened, she clearly had a "chip on her shoulder" and felt she was owed certain things. I'm not condemning her, I have always just felt she seemed so angry and bitter over the situation.

I don't want to be like that! I want to be GRATEFUL and SHINE the JOY of GOD. 

Two women came to mind that seem to exhibit a grateful spirit in particular. They seem "gentle" and joyful (though I know they have their own struggles) all the time.

Do you know anyone like this? If so what have you learned by their example?

For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 23

Day 23

1 Timothy 6:6–10

All of us, in some way, possess some 

sense of entitlement toward God. So 

often our expectation or demand for 

“more” towers over the plenty we 

already possess. That’s because we 

forget that God doesn’t owe us 

anything. We are debtors. We are the 

ones who owe. We think we deserve 

more (or different or better) than we 

have, and therefore we forget or 

minimize the blessings God has already 

given and continues to give.

Not content with food, clothing, and a 

roof over our heads, we whine if we 

don’t have a certain kind of house, a 

certain kind of car, a certain kind of 

job, a certain kind of marriage, and 

certain kinds of friends living in a 

certain kind of neighborhood and 

income bracket. It’s time we let 

gratitude be our ticket to freedom.

What kinds of “wants” are you defining 

as “needs”? Ask God to show you any 

ways you may have become blinded to 

His grace. Highlight them. Confess 

them. And trade them in on the bounty 

God promises to the grateful.


I know what I WANT for a home...but am just so thankful that we have a safe place to live and have been together as a family.


I know how I WANT to eat and feed my family...but am just thankful that we have not gone hungry, that God has provided us FOOD. *smile*



I do struggle with what I WANT for a marriage...though that is not always wrong! Wanting to change every. little. thing. about my husband and marriage and being discontent is wrong. 

Where my marriage is at is also NOT God honoring though! There is nothing wrong with WANTING and WORKING on myself and my marriage (following scripture, seeking the Lord, and through HIS strength), while praying for my husband at the same time. *smile* Does that make sense??


What "wants" are you defining as "needs"?



For His Glory,

Choosing Gratitude Day 22

Day 22

Proverbs 30:7–9

You may have heard some preachers 

and teachers leave the impression that 

God intends for every Christian to be 

materially rich. Others go too far the 

other way, proudly wearing poverty 

like a cloak of self-righteous sainthood. 


Today’s proverb puts a proper 

perspective on the whole thing. The 

Word is teaching us to focus more on 

being grateful for where we are—not 

only because to do otherwise would be 

sinful and proud, but also because we 

don’t know what the Lord may be 

saving us from by not giving us 

everything we might want.

Even if we possess much less than 

others have, if our hearts are full of 

gratitude, neither money nor the lack 

of it can shake our contented 

dependence on God.

Ask the Lord to show you if there is any 

root of discontentment or “love of 

money” in your heart. Ask Him to 

provide just what He knows you need—

enough to keep you from being 

tempted to sin to get your needs met, 

but not so much that you no longer 

need to rely on Him as your Provider. 

Take some time to thank Him for His 

practical, material provision in your life.

Again what a timely post. With Black Friday/Small Business Sat., and now Cyber Monday upon us...this is a great reminder!

It's also a great reminder for me personally with money being incredibly tight and my husband still not having a job, I can struggle with contentment.

Honestly I LOVE finding a bargain, so I've struggled with discontentment during all these fabulous deals (on things we could use/need), but really can't afford it. 

I'm thankful that we have a safe place to live and some area to call "our own" during this time. I'm thankful that He faithfully provides food, heat, gas for the car, and that the cars still runs (it's making a funny noise). 

What about you are you struggling with discontentment or "love of money"? What practical things/provisions are you thankful for?


For His Glory,