A Prayer to Be Thankful for the Little Things in Life - Your Daily Prayer - November 23

A Prayer to Be Thankful for the Little Things in Life 
By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading 
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Listen or Read Below: 

At the beginning of this year, I made a goal to start noticing the little things in life. This was for the purpose of bringing back joy, hope, and creativity in my life. I was severely depressed at the beginning of the year and it was hard for me to even leave the house. I didn't want to get out of bed, and I certainly did not have the bandwidth to even notice the little beauties that were all around me. Sadly, the darkness of winter has a way of making my depression worse. Maybe you have also noticed the same thing in your own life. Know that while this is common, we don't have to allow depression to continue to ruin our winters. By stopping and thinking about the small beauties of the world and the blessings of God, we can feel a little bit of this darkness lift from our hearts. 

Throughout this year, I have paid more attention to the beauty of the blue sky, the crisp air, and the changing colors of the sunset. All these things have brought me back to the feet of Jesus. None of these things would exist without Him. They are a constant reminder of the grace of our Lord and the love He has for us. When I get down, I think about these things. Yes, life can be draining and awful at times, but Jesus is still with us. As believers, we are just passing through; we will not stay in this fallen world forever. There will come a day when all sin will be eradicated and along with it, illness, pain, and death. Within the New Heaven and New Earth, none of these things will ever cross our minds ever again (Revelation 21:4). As we are awaiting this day, we need to have hope.

To build upon hope, we can start being thankful for the little things in life because they ultimately point us back to God. God restores our hearts and minds with his love. Our Bible passage today comes from the Apostle Paul, and he says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). By putting Paul’s teachings into action, we will begin to be thankful for the little things. Maybe life isn’t going exactly as we would like it to go, but God’s beautiful plans are still unraveling in our lives. Things will get better because God is in control. Even if you are having a hard time finding anything to be thankful for, you can be thankful for God. He is our Almighty, Wonderful God, and He is also our dearly loved friend.

Think of some ways you can start noticing the little things in life this week—and be thankful for them. With time, thankfulness will become second nature for you. You will praise and give thanks to our beloved God above. Even when days are hard, you will know that God loves you.

Let’s pray: 

Dear God, I have struggled with thankfulness for a long time. Sometimes it can feel as though there is nothing to be thankful for. Please help me to start being thankful for the little things in life and to give You thanks because of these things. Every beautiful thing on this earth was created by You. You are amazing and I give You thanks today. Amen.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Prostock-Studio

Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate: https://cultivatechristianity.wordpress.com/. 

Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.

Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith

Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going. 

Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.

Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below!