Bridget A. Thomas
Every day is a gift!
Gratitude Challenge Day 16
Pray: Dear God, we thank You not only for a new day, but for a new week as well. Whatever this Monday brings, whether we are heading to work, school, staying home, or going somewhere else, we see it as a fresh start. There is much potential before us. We have a clean slate to work towards our goals and to draw closer to You. Help us to keep this in mind throughout the week. And today we humbly ask for Your strength and Your guidance on this journey. We want to make a habit of living with our arms wide open, so that You can orchestrate our days. There are so many opportunities in our lives to bless others and reach out to those around us. But we fear that we often miss our chances, because we are set in our ways and want things to go according to plan. Or perhaps we let fear stop us at times. Lord, help us to be understanding when things don’t go the way we expect them to. Help us to realize that often life’s interruptions are truly divine plans coming from You. Thank you, God. It is amazing to know how You are working in our lives each and every day. Today, we will keep our arms wide open for Your grace. We are Yours, Lord. We lift our hands in praise. You have set us free, God, and we are so thankful. All that we are, we place into Your loving hands. It is in Jesus’ holy name that we pray, Amen.
Practice Gratitude: What are you grateful for? I am grateful to live with my arms wide open, knowing that God will orchestrate my steps. I am grateful to know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will lead us down the right path. I grateful to belong to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And I am grateful for a new week.
Praise. Here is today’s song! Enjoy! Rooftops by Jesus Culture
Please share in the comments if today’s reading spoke to you. Or you may add a prayer, your gratitude list, praise, etc.
© 2020 Bridget A. Thomas
Bridget A. Thomas 
Gratitude Challenge – Day 16
I’m grateful for the little miracles of life. Be very careful not to miss them!! A dear young friend’s son was having seizures. He had been hospitalized at Nemours on a couple of occasions. Through a conversation with a family member, the little fella was able to get an appointment with a leading epilepsy specialist in New York in just a few days. I saw God’s hand in making it possible because it would normally take 6 months or more to get an appointment with this group. So grateful the little fella hasn’t experienced a seizures in over a year!!
P.S. I’ve never heard today’s song before.
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Oh that is such wonderful news. Thank you for sharing that story, Renee. 🥰 You are right, miracles are everywhere. If we keep our eyes open, we will see them. 🙏 And about today’s song – I don’t think they play it in the radio, but it is one that is dear to my heart. ❤️
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There are indeed so many opportunities around us to bless others but we can miss them when we have tunnel vision and just going about our busy way. That really struck me because I can be like that.
I am thankful for a beautiful sunny day today ( had a very rainy weekend here).
For kind words said to me, they are such a blessing.
For the blessing of having running water and the ability to have a hot shower. Simple things we can take for granted, but is not the case for someone who is homeless.
Blessings my friend 💙
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You are absolutely right. And I too can get tunnel vision. I am sorry to say that sometimes I even get frustrated when things go differently than I planned. ☹️ I am trying to change that because I have seen many times when God was part of life’s interruptions.
I am sorry you had a rainy weekend, but glad today is a beautiful sunny day! Kind words are a blessing for sure. And yes I totally agree with your last item! We often take it for granted, but there are so many people who don’t have such a luxury.
Blessings to you too, dear friend! ❤️
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This weekend was challenging; leaking pipes, birds trapped in a screened in porch, leaking faucet, and the list goes on. So I’m thankful for a new week, new opportunities, and a new outlook.
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I am sorry to hear about the challenges you faced this weekend. I pray that this new week will bring abundant blessings! 🍂🍁☕️
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I’m grateful for editing progress, for choosing to no longer worry about being safe but to throw myself into God’s plans, for days coming only one at a time.
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Regarding the first one – I am glad you are making progress. I know it’s been a long road. And regarding the other two – beautifully said and they made me think! ❤️
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❤
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Beautiful prayer!
I’m thankful for heat (tonight and tomorrow night it’s supposed to be in the 20s!), for God’s gentle nudges when I need them most, and clean air!
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We have yet to turn on our heat. But it is definitely something to be thankful for (and AC too). Yes!! I very much agree with being thankful for God’s nudges! And I must say, I don’t often think about clean air, so thanks for pointing that blessing out!
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Your prayer is such a beautiful way to start the week, especially Monday (which typically gets ridiculed)…sweet reminder once again that we’re in control of how we’re going to view our life/circumstances.
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Such a good point! Thank you for sharing that thought. You’re absolutely right, we have a choice! ❤️
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