Monday Measures for November 3, 2025

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, making it the perfect time to reflect on how we are intentionally practicing gratitude.

Did you know gratitude is a life-changing practice backed by science and Scripture?  It increases the feel-good chemicals in our brain, boosting our overall positivity, helping us connect with others, and making us feel happier and more hopeful.  Physically, gratitude can help us relax, increasing sleep and decreasing anxiety.  God’s goodness is not dependent upon our circumstances.  In fact, it is during our hardest times that we often experience His blessings the most.  Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “Give thanks in all circumstances.”  God knows that when we express gratitude – regardless of our circumstances, we experience His peace, His provision, His goodness.   

 Most of us long for more positivity, connection, hope, and peace, so how do we get them?  Even in a world that seems full of negativity, stress, and anxiety, there are things we can do. 

 ·         Keep a gratitude journal – sometimes blessings do not fully register until we write them down.  Or we lose track of how much good is in our life because our brains are trying to process too much at once.  Journaling helps us recognize the big things, notice the little things, and put even the not-so-great things in perspective.

·         Write one thing you are grateful for on a sticky note and place it on your mirror. Every time you see it, say it out loud. Engaging multiple senses—writing, reading, speaking—helps our brains absorb and believe the truth. It is a small act with a big impact. 

·         Start prayers by first thanking God. This reminds us that He is faithful to provide for and protect us, and that there is always something to be grateful for. Gratitude anchors us in His goodness.

When Brandon Lake's song "Gratitude" came out it instantly became one of my favorites.  Little did I know that shortly after that song was released, I would enter a season that left me feeling broken and oftentimes without words to pray.  Even in the worst moments of my worst days, when this song came on, my hurt turned to praise.  I drove down the highway numerous times with tears on my cheeks, one hand on the wheel and the other raised in praise.  Even in our darkest moments, God holds us.  In Psalm 56:8 David says to God, "You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book."  God holds us.  He collects our tears, and He uses them for good.  That is something to be grateful for. 

Do you already intentionally practice gratitude?  What actions do you take to stay focused on God’s goodness?  Share your tips in the comments.  I cannot wait to read them, and your story might be just what someone else needs today.