Give Thanks

The 21 Day Thanks and Gratitude Challenge

We were sharing at a women’s ministry gathering and this verse was part of our
teaching on “praying with thanks and gratitude.” We challenged the women to spend 21
one days focusing on intentional gratitude and thanks to the Lord. As many of us
realize, it can take 21 days to begin to break “old habits” (yes, even in prayer) and begin
to form “new habits.” It was an encouragement for the women there to fix their focus on
Jesus and find something He had done, spoken through His word, or promised and use
that as fuel for our prayers of thanksgiving and gratefulness.

As we shared this verse, suddenly we felt the need to use it as a visual learning tool.
We were in a church, and so came down off the platform and made our way to the front
door – which was barely visible from the sanctuary. We asked the women how often
they intentionally paused as they opened the front door of the church on Sunday
morning and “entered the gates” of the house of the Lord with thanksgiving in their
heart, their mind, their lips? I confess that some Sundays I arrive at our church
scattered, fragmented in my thinking, and rushing. My heart is often unsettled as I walk
through those front doors. Could they, and we, make this a 21-Sunday challenge?

Then we made our way forward to the double doors opening up to the sanctuary and
asked again if we were entering “His courts with praise.” This was an opportunity for a
double blessing to God: thank Him and praise Him. We could, and can, choose to do
this despite our situation or setback that may find us confused, upset, or lonely. Further,
if we are in deep pain and cannot find it within us to thank and praise Him, that is where
the body of Christ steps in and steps up. As we reach out to a friend, she may be the
one who thanks and praises for us both, as we experience grief, loss, or sorrow. More
than once, I’ve turned to a friend and asked them to “walk me in,” which is an amazing
act of love.

And so, dear reader, are you ready to try this 21-day challenge? Let us know in the
comments below, so we can be praying for you and encouraging you on your journey.