Being thankful does not come naturally. My natural self finds it easier to complain, grumble, or just ignore things. As a child of God, you must learn to be thankful. Taking time regularly to sit and list the things that you are thankful for is a good exercise. In your prayer journal have a section for thanksgiving.

Why Include a Thanksgiving Section in your Prayer Journal?

Learning to be thankful requires discipline. It requires that you take the time to think about what you have to be thankful for. It is good to record these so you can reflect back on all that has happened.

Personally, as I try to sit each day with my prayer journal having this there gives me a time to just reflect on all the things that I have to be thankful for. It also helps me to see the things that God gives and provides for me each day.

We are commanded to be thankful. You are to be thankful in everything, all circumstances. You don’t get to pick and choose what you are thankful for but all circumstances. In everything, God is working and for that alone, you can be thankful. When you are thankful, you are focusing on God and not the circumstances.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

It is good to give thanks. The psalmist writes in Psalm 92:1, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;” (ESV) God says it is good for us. Even medical research says that it is good for us.

What to Include in a Thanksgiving Section in your Prayer Journal?

I have a blank page in my Thanksgiving section. Well, it was blank the other week before the first of January. Now I am slowly reflecting and recording things that I have to be thankful for. I am trying to add to it every day. These might be small things or they could be big things. I did notice that I have repeated some things. Repeating things is great as again and again, I say thank you for those things.

I am looking forward to filling this page and many more pages this year as I give thanks to God. How many pages will I fill this year?

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1 (ESV)

I know some people fill a jar with things they are thankful for. That is a great idea as it is visible you can see the pieces of paper.

Do you have a place where you record the things you are thankful for? Where do you record those things?

This is part of a series where I share my prayer journal.

3 Things You Need to Include in Your Prayer Journal

A Section for Confession

A Section for Praise & Worship

This is the post that started it all 7 Books that Will Encourage you to Pray More.