Bridget A. Thomas
Every day is a gift!
Conclusion of the Gratitude Challenge for 2022
If you have been reading my posts this fall, then you are likely aware of the gratitude challenge. It wasn’t the main focus of my posts, but I did mention it at the end of each post as a reminder.
Since I was encouraging you to continue through December 31, I am stopping by today to check in. But don’t let this stop you from continuing for as long as you like!
As we flip our calendars from one year to the next, this is a perfect time for us to reflect on gratitude. When we look back at the year that has gone by, we might see some struggles we encountered. But if we dig a bit, we can also find ways that God has helped us, been there for us, and provided for us.
Each year is like that. In fact, some days are like that too. On this earth, will walk through a mixture of trials and blessings. However, when we are intentional to practice gratitude, this helps us to focus on the good and keep our eyes on Jesus. Even though we face difficulties, gratitude helps us to see that the Lord has been beside us every step of the way. And this brings a peace that surpasses understanding.
Okay I know some of you are thinking about how difficult life can be, and finding peace seems impossible. I get it. Life can be really hard. In fact, I said something along those lines in prayer earlier this week. But while some days it is difficult to look for the good, there is always something good to be found. Each day has beauty in it. Sometimes it is easy to find. Other times we have to be intentional and look for it.
And I have found that when we are intentional about looking for the good in our lives, and giving God thanks for the blessings, it can change our hearts. And when we have a changed heart, this helps alter so many other areas of our lives. We have the opportunity to walk in joy, instead of bitterness. We are more apt to mold lasting relationships, instead of breaking them down with resentment. We can walk in love, instead of hate.
It’s true – all of this seems backwards from the world we live in. But we are not of this world. We are set apart. And while gratitude will not change our circumstances, it will change our outlook. And our outlook affects more than we realize.
“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” – Charles Spurgeon
Therefore, I hope that we all continue to embrace gratitude as we step into the new year. Gratitude draws us closer to God and brings joy into our lives. When we walk in gratitude, we are walking in God’s will. And when our gratitude is part of our walk with God, it helps us to praise and worship Him, because we are thanking Him for all of the blessings in our lives.
I have found that praise and gratitude go hand-in-hand because our praise increases our gratitude and our gratitude increases our praise. And they both lift our spirits!
Dr. Charles Stanley said, “If it’s not already your practice, praise God throughout the day. Exalt Him when you wake up, when you eat, when you leave the house and when you return. An attitude of adoring trust in the Lord will make an amazing difference in your life.”
I hope this gratitude challenge has helped you to find a deeper trust in God. Because when we continually keep our eyes open for the blessings in our lives, we will see how God truly is working all things together for good.
If you participated in the gratitude challenge, let me know how it went.
I pray you have a safe and Happy New Year and a blessed 2023!
“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.” – Psalm 92:1-2
© 2022 Bridget A. Thomas
Bridget A. Thomas 
Spurgeon and Stanley offer us so much wisdom. I love that you shared their insights on gratitude and the connection to praising God. I’ve enjoyed trying to participate in your Gratitude Challenge and have learned some things from it. I pray all God’s best for you and your family in this upcoming new year. Here we come 2023!
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I have found that gratitude and praise are muscles we can strengthen. It’s amazing how our eyes will see more good around us once we take the time to look. Thank you, Rainer! Have a safe and happy new year! And I pray your 2023 is filled with blessings.
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“But we are not of this world. We are set apart.”
This is the best reason to live a life of godly gratitude. We are ambassadors for Christ!
I’m a bit of a late comer to this project. However, your excellent book, “Every Day is a Gift” helped get me in the habit of writing down five things I’m thankful for every day. I am currently on day 13 of 30!
You certainly practice what you preach, Bridget. Thank you for being a consistent encouragement to other Christian bloggers. Here’s to a grateful 2023!
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David, I love that you have been writing down things you are grateful for. I really do think this habit has helped change me over the last few years. I agree – as ambassadors for Christ, we need to let our lights shine. I am grateful for the wonderful friendships God has formed through WordPress, including ours. I pray you and yours have a blessed 2023.
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Thank you Bridget! You’re so right, being thankful requires us to be intentional, because sometimes we may not see things right away that we can be thankful for. However, God is always blessing us! Even on our difficult days, He is there with us, working out what is best for us. And just the simple things that are easy to take for granted, like getting up out of bed and brushing our teeth, is a reason for praise! Because many people can’t even do that. God is so very faithful! Thank you for challenging us to remain grateful everyday. Have a blessed New Years Eve! ❤️🤗
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You are absolutely right! It’s all about perspective. We have so much to be thankful for. Sadly we forget and often times take those things for granted. But when we look around for the blessings, it’s amazing how much more our eyes are opened. Thank you, Dawn! Happy New Years Eve and a blessed 2023 to you! ♥️
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Grateful for the inspiration you’ve shared. Looking forward to sharing another year with you.
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Thank you, Judy! I agree! I am looking forward to another year with you too. ♥️
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Happy new year my friend. Practising Gratitude is definitely intentional. And praise and gratitude do go hand in hand, one feeds the other. I am thankful to you for getting me to be more intentional with writing things I am grateful for and it truly does change my perspective and outlook.
May you have a blessed year ahead and I look forward to journeying with you here to see where God leads you spiritually.
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Manu, I agree with being intentional. Even when my heart is not in it, if I take the time to look around, I will find so many ways God has poured blessings into my life. Happy New Year to you! I pray 2023 is blessed for you and your family. I am looking forward to the year ahead on your blog as well. And I am thankful God has allowed our paths to cross 🤗
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AMEN to the wisdom you share here, Bridget, about gratitude for our blessings. Keeping a journal has been a game-changer for me, increasing my joy and contentment!
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I agree! Keeping a gratitude journal has helped me so much as well. It helps me to focus on the blessings. God is so good to us. Even when I have been down and had a hard time looking around for the good, He still sent it my way. I am continually amazed by our Loving Father!
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Me too, Bridget. In fact, my post for tomorrow is exactly about that–wild amazement in our God!
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I look forward to reading it! ♥️
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Thank you, my friend!
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You’re welcome and thank you for stopping by 😊
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Awe I love the truth about gratitude. I don’t know what it is about me but I’ll do good with this for a while and then poof it’s gone for a while! If I’m going to make a New Year’s resolution it should be to stay hard at it with keeping a gratitude journal!!!! I always appreciate your encouragement in this and I admire that you know how truly important and what a blessing from God it is to acknowledge and note our blessings!
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I understand. I used to be like that too. I guess at some point it finally became a habit, after I kept pushing through. Reading Ann Voskamp’s book “One Thousand Gifts” encouraged me to keep count. And I am still counting. After 5+ years, I have over 17,000 “gifts.” Usually I try to jot down good things that happened in my day. It might be something seemingly small like a pretty sunset or baking a special dessert. Or it could be something big, like an answered prayer or receiving money unexpectedly. I’m glad to know that this was encouraging. Let me know how it goes! 🙏♥️🙌
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That’s awesome!!! Wow, 17,000!!! That’s something to be thankful for in itself!!!
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Thank you for the encouragement!!
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Yes! It is a blessing and shows how awesome our God is! 🙌 You are so welcome. And thank you for encouraging me too! Your words are always heartfelt and inspiring! ♥️
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