Giving Thanks

‘I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
and did not let my foes rejoice over me’ (Psalm 30.1)

Reflection

A few years ago, I took up the practice of ’bullet journaling’. This method of organising life and work is, in a sense, a glorified to-do list. But it provides space for doodling and other forms of creativity, which help me keep on track with my tasks.

What I love about this form of journaling is that it encapsulates life holistically. It is not just about work. It includes things I need to remember to do at home, at church, and for the charity boards I sit on. It also has space for long-term vision-casting, lists of podcasts to listen to, books to read, and things I need to pray for.

What I have found most helpful about bullet journaling is the space it provides to jot down things I am grateful for. The ‘gratitude’ section allows me to thank God for the work achievements, the babies born, and the moments in family life that I am thankful for. Without the space for gratitude each week, it would be easy for me to go through life without pausing to be thankful. Life would consist of endless to-do lists without time to pause, reflect, and give thanks to God.

The writer of Psalm 30 starts with exalting the Lord, recognising that it is God who has lifted him up. It can be easy for those of us who have experienced success in our careers to believe our own hype, to think that we have got to where we are because of our own merit. Today’s passage is a reminder to give all glory to God, in every circumstance.

Response

Incorporate moments of gratitude – for small and big things - in your everyday life. Consider recording these in a gratitude journal. Looking back over it can be a source of encouragement.

Prayer

Lord, we exalt you. We thank you for all you have done for us. May our hearts so overflow with gratitude that we notice more moments of beauty in our daily lives. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Next Steps

To pick up some simple, transformative truths about everyday faith, read the short but powerful book by Anne Lamott Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers.

This Week's Author

Chine McDonald, Director of the Think Tank Theos

God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the coming Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.

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