Thanksgiving Day is over in America.  After celebrating and thanking the Lord for family, friends, and other things, the annual tradition of basically saying “But that’s not enough!” begins—

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, an onslaught of ads everywhere, all beckon us to want and get MORE!  Before long, a heart of gratitude gives way to a heart of “get-it-tude”.  Where did the contentment go?

I’m not condemning getting great deals on stuff we need.  In fact, I’ve also taken advantage of a couple of cyber-deep-discounts.  As to in-store, I’d rather explore a jungle than go shopping on Black Friday—the two are equivalent, except in the jungle, one is less likely to get trampled on! 🙂

But the issue isn’t what we buy or when, so much as it is our attitude toward what we have and/or don’t have.  How can we maintain a thankful heart in the midst of more-mania?

Here are three keys:

  • PAST: For every year that we’ve been alive, that we can remember, think of at least one thing we’re thankful for. Write them down. Yes, some of us have more years to do this with!  But, no worries—that just means more blessings in the memory-basket! 🙂 

When we start to feel sad, worried, or discouraged, recounting these will remind us of God’s faithfulness to us in the past, help us feel better in the present, and expect a good future according to His “track record”. 

The Israelites did this regularly, and it always encouraged them. “I will recount the LORD’s faithful acts; I will sing the LORD’s praises, because of all the LORD has done for us.” Is. 63:7. Notice Who we’re giving credit to in this.  Ps. 136, the entire Psalm, is another great example—thanking the Lord for various things, and repeating the implication—“His love endures forever”.

We can also keep a periodic, ongoing, record of categorized thanks.  Our family has done this for over 20 years, through what we call the “Box of Blessings” (affectionately named “BOB”). 

  • PRESENT: Every day, write down three things we’re thankful for.  Why three?  It takes more work and thinking than one, which develops our “gratitude” muscle more— the same way more “reps” with exercise develops our physical muscles more.  Plus, we get three-times the good feeling once we’ve thought of them.  For a challenge, once we’ve mastered three, we can increase our “reps” and write more “thankful-for”s daily. 

Any time of day works well for this (we can even split it up).  Mornings—to set a good tone for the day.  Midday—as a great break and pick-me-up in the middle of busyness and work.  Night, at bedtime—to reflect on the day in a good way, go to sleep happier, and sleep better as a result.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night…”   Ps. 92:1-2

Don’t worry if you miss a day.  Just start again the next day, and thank the Lord you have a next day to do it!

  • FUTURE: Anticipate the future with hope and thankfulness— Dream.  Envision.  Let the Lord fill our imagination and thoughts with what He can do in, through, and for us, if we remain open to it.  Thank Him for what He’s going to do, knowing that what He promises, He brings to pass. “ For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” 2 Cor. 1:20

This isn’t “name it, claim it”.  This is hear it, revere it— We listen to the Lord, hear His heart, join HIS purpose, and keep our hearts right with Him.  “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:4

With the past, present, and future covered, we’ll never be singing those “I never have enough” blues!  Shop if we have to, just do it with a continued heart of thanks for what we’ve had, have, and will have, in Him!