How to Make Thankfulness Your Sacrifice to God
“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God . . .”
Psalm 50:14, NLT
A million snowflakes fall effortlessly to the frozen earth, piling upon themselves in brilliance while I stand silently watching. My heart is heavy as I stand in this winter forest today—grieving so much change and loss over the past months.
As the snow settles with an almost undiscernible hush, a verse comes to mind: “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God” (Psalm 50:14, NLT).
A friend’s words reverberate in my heart at the same time, reminding me to give thanks even in the pain of this season.
Sometimes, thankfulness is nothing short of a sacrifice—a gift offered with a cost.
I will not sacrifice to the Lord that which costs me nothing (see 2 Samuel 24:24).
How to Make Thankfulness Your Sacrifice to God
I’ve done the research and know what happens in our brains when we shift toward gratitude and appreciation: relational pathways open, allowing us to connect deeply with God and others; the neurons in our brains are transformed; neuropathways of fear and worry are neglected as pathways of joy and hope are strengthened.
I remind myself of this: Two seemingly opposite emotions can coexist. I can be sad and thankful at the same time. Joy and pain can exist together, woven in a beautiful tapestry as the capacity for empathy grows.
Joy and pain can exist together, woven in a beautiful tapestry as the capacity for empathy grows. #pain #joy #emotions #faith #hope Share on X
Furthermore, when we make thankfulness a sacrifice to God, the enemy loses ground in our lives. Instead of pushing us into despondency or despair, we move closer to God.
If giving thanks feels difficult for you today, the Lord is inviting you to make thankfulness your sacrifice to him. Here are a few practical ways to do this.
Practical Ways to Make Thankfulness Your Sacrifice to God
1. Make it a habit to begin your days by giving thanks.
Before your feet hit the floor each morning, thank God for one blessing in your life. Starting the day with gratitude can set you up for more joy and peace all day long.
2. Find reasons to give thanks during the difficult moments of your days.
When you’re standing in a long line at the grocery store, find a reason to give thanks. When you’re stuck in traffic, having a bad day at work, taking your loved one to yet another appointment, or battling to keep your head above water, ask God to help you find a reason to give thanks.
3. Thank God for his goodness.
Maybe you can’t find a single reason to give thanks. At these times, we can always thank God for his goodness to us.
God will never leave you or abandon you. He won’t fail you—even when it feels like he has.
Make this your story. Speak it out loud—to yourself and to others.
God will be faithful to you. You can rest in this promise, and this is always a reason to give thanks.
4. Speak the Word.
Here are some Bible verses to speak and pray when you’re having trouble giving thanks.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV).
This verse teaches us that giving thanks is God’s will for us. God wants us to be thankful because he knows that gratitude changes the way our minds work and fills us with joy.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17, ESV).
We are to do everything with grateful hearts. This truth changes the way we approach our daily work and reminds us to keep giving thanks at all times.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, ESV).
God wants you to bring your cares and concerns to him. He also wants you to approach him with a thankful heart. You can trust that he is working for your good.
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” ( Psalm 107:1, ESV).
Are you having a hard time finding something for which to give thanks?
When we cannot find a reason to thank God amid difficult circumstances, we can always thank him for being good. God’s love will never leave us, and God is always good.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17, ESV).
I’ll never forget the first time this verse touched my heart. I realized that every single good thing in my life is from God.
Suddenly, I saw my life in a new light.
I realized that everything from sunny days to smiles from strangers were gifts from God. I began keeping track of God’s blessings, and there were too many to count.
5. Engage in worship.
When we worship God, the act of adoring him naturally lifts our hearts. Worship cultivates gratitude for the goodness of our God.
6. Feel the pain and the joy.
True gratitude involves allowing ourselves to fully experience the full range of emotions. This means we allow ourselves to process both joy and pain. Remember, these two emotions can coexist in the same space.
7. Speak words of gratitude.
Gratitude is very different from toxic positivity.
Toxic positivity comes across as being fake—declaring that all is well when all is not well.
True gratitude is real about the hard parts of a situation but also grateful for the goodness threaded throughout.
8. Ask God for help.
When gratitude is difficult, we can ask God to help us find reasons to be thankful. We don’t have to force thankfulness through willpower and self-effort. This is a work God wants to do in our hearts. Our role is to draw near to him.
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Calling all moms and daughters—and parents of boys!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 14, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or grandparents to read with the children they care about.
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength is for boys ages 5-13. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to courageously carry God’s love into the world. Written with input from our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven, this book will help the boys you care about find courage and strength in God. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Devotionals for Girls
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
All three books are available in print and eBook form here on Amazon. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
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