Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! 1 Chronicles 16:8-13, NASB

Taking the time to give thanks is so important because it keeps us humble and happy and reminds us of our dependency on God and His generosity toward us. Psychologists and other scientists continue to prove what the Psalmist said thousands of years ago—a person with a grateful heart and attitude is happier and lives longer.

The Thanksgiving season provides the perfect opportunity for us to incorporate more thankfulness into our prayer lives. During this time, I encourage you to practice what the above verses teach. This thankfulness exercise will help you form a much-needed habit of giving thanks that will help you focus on the blessings instead of the busyness during the upcoming holiday season. It will also lift you up during the coming months of testing, indoor recess, and challenging weather. It will train your heart and mind to seek the Lord and be glad every day because you will constantly remind yourself of what God has done —and live in eager expectation of what He will do today.

Lord, help me to celebrate Thanksgiving every day so that my life and lips will eagerly testify of Your wonderful deeds.

Copyright Kathy Branzell.

Kathy has a heart for encouraging Christian educators and currently serves as the President of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Prior to this role, she was the founder and president of Fellowship and Christian Encouragement (FACE) for Educators.