Neurologically, we cannot be anxious and thankful at the same time (Sheila Walsh). If we’re truly thankful, we won’t be worried. Tons of studies show how thankfulness aids to being joyful. It’s interesting how that scientific fact proves the Bible to be true.
Immediately after Paul encouraged readers to be joyful, he instructed the following, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
In other words, if you are anxious, start counting your blessings. Think about what you have to be grateful for. Thankfulness is clinically proven to lessen anxiety and increase joy. Hence why Paul says that we should present our requests and worries to God with thanksgiving. He reminds us that doing so will bring us peace.
While thankfulness in general will bring us peace, thankfulness to God Almighty will bring us HIS peace, which as Paul says, “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
This Christmas, as in past years, I have a lot I could choose to worry about. But I also have a lot to be grateful for. I can choose to let anxieties run my mind, or I can choose to be thankful.
The Peanuts cartoon has a Thanksgiving Day special that shares about the first Thanksgiving. It shows how difficult that first year of life in a new world was for the Pilgrims. Many died! They faced trials of many kinds (James 1). But those pilgrims chose to count their blessings and give thanks to God for what they did have. They could have easily given up or given in to bitterness. They had every reason to. But they chose Thanksgiving instead. I pray we choose the same, not just today, but as a lifestyle.
This past year, I studied the book of Ecclesiastes. It brought me great joy and unimaginable contentment. While I jokingly refer to it as Solomon’s midlife crisis book, Solomon had some good points. The wisest man top have ever lived actually had great advice about how to live each day to its’ fullest and find joy in our everyday lives.
Advent Devotional
Each year we prepare our homes for Christmas, but what about our hearts? In my new book, The Coming King, you will prepare your heart each day leading up to Christmas. Each day has an Old Testament prophecy about Jesus with the corresponding New Testament verse where Jesus fulfilled it. With signs of the end of the age all around us, its important to ready our hearts not only for Christmas, but for Christ’s second coming. This book will help you do just that! (Also available wherever books are sold, like Barnes and Noble.)
Kids’ Update
At a new school this year, but doing well. We’re trying to find that perfect balance between doing sports and activities without being too busy. Realizing the perfect balance doesn’t exist, lol.
2024 Book Recommendations
Picture book: Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken
Kids’ chapter book: Dead Sea Squirrels series
Adult non-fiction: Triumph Over Trauma
Memoir: Raspberry Wars
Memoir: Spare
