Gratitude changes my attitude, which is why Thanksgiving ranks high on my list of holidays.

Every so often, life seems a struggle to enjoy. Some days, the struggle begins before my feet hit my wood floors. In such cases, I start my day itemizing the blessings from the Lord, from waking me up and protecting my family to restoring my soul (Psalm 23). Without a few moments of gratitude, I wouldn’t want to face the day.

Have you watched the news lately?

The same applies to my evenings. If I don’t take time to write down or thank God for at least one positive moment of the day, I may feel discouraged, all was a loss, or the day (excuse the slang) sucked!

Negativity and reality can steal our joy, but praise God, “The joy of the Lord is our strength!” A whispered “hallelujah” can turn our lemons in life into a lemonade party when we have proper focus. Instead of feeling defeated by the day, we feel like we can conquer anything life throws at us.

Gratitude is all about focus.

David said it this way. “The Lord is my strength and mshield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to Him with my song.” Psalms 28:7 CSB

When we focus on God as our Savior, Protector, and Promise Keeper, we can’t help but lift up our voices, our hearts, and our hands.

Therefore, the next time the day doesn’t seem to go your way, remind yourself of Who made the day, Who holds your tomorrow, and Who always gives you a reason to be grateful. It always works for me.

Happy Thanksgiving, Really,

Leah