a thankful heart

On Sunday morning I woke up feeling like rubbish. Physically, I was actually pretty healthy. But emotionally I was feeling a bit like garbage. It was only a few minutes of dumpster feelings, but it was long enough to remind me of something VERY important.

I NEED TO BE THANKFUL.

See, the source of my funk was the idea that I had fallen behind and I was overwhelmed by all of the things I wanted to change in my life. I was focusing on all kinds of things that either weren't true or just weren't productive.

To invite you deeper into my heart, here were some of my struggles:

- Feeling physically unattractive

- Feeling like I dress badly and am not stylish

- Feeling like my house isn't decorated nicely

- Feeling constantly behind in my work

- Feeling like I should be doing more to learn Spanish before I go to Chile in December

- Feeling like I don't do a good enough job loving Shaun

- Wondering what people think of me

- Hoping I am making God happy

- Wondering if I am wasting my gifts

Those are just some of them.

So that morning when I woke up and felt terribly, I immediately had the thought

'Jessica, You are so focused on what is wrong you have forgotten that you actually have a wonderful life.'

I think that was a gentle reminder from God to get my heart back on track.

After brushing my teeth I sat down with my Bible, my journal, and began a list of all of the things that I was thankful for. It was so refreshing to remember again how much there was to be grateful for! Then as I went throughout my day I also asked my friends to tell me what they were thankful for, and together we practiced gratitude.

There is so much power in being thankful, because as we meditate on all of the gifts in life we realize just how blessed we really are... and all of the other stuff just dissolves. Gratitude also brings humility, it reminds us that all we have is a gift from God, and we are to praise Him for His constant goodness. 

So I encourage you today to listen to God's word in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 when He tells us,

^"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."