The month of November ushers in thoughts of gratitude as eyes, hearts (and tummies) turn towards celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday. While gratitude approaches abound, I prefer mindfully lingering with gratitude in various ways. Throughout the month on Mindfulness Monday, I’ll share unique ways you can enjoy practicing mindful gratitude.
At the end of the post, you can sign up for my FREE Serenity in Gratitude devotional if you want even more ideas.
Welcome to Mindfulness Monday! Where we learn some easy ways to be more present “in the moment” at our jobs, in our homes, with our families and friends.
Learning to recognize God and what He has for us in each divine moment He offers. We acknowledge the belief that God is with us always.
We confess His presence is available to us, lifting our spirit and helping us with power and grace. Learning the art of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.
To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch Heaven.
Thomas S. Monson
Benefits of Mindful Gratitude
Expressing gratitude positively impacts emotional and physical well-being; as Christians, we know the huge impact gratitude has on our spiritual growth and maturity. While we all need an avenue of gratitude expression, I desire to offer a peaceful path of soul restoration in the midst of gratitude.
Practicing mindful gratitude encourages peaceful rest for your soul and offers opportunity for meditating more deeply on your life, surroundings and relationships in unique ways.
Arguably the greatest benefit of practicing mindful gratitude rests in its reflective quality. Staying present, noticing God’s abundant blessings is only the beginning; lingering with the Giver of those blessings deepens intimacy.
weekly mindful gratitude challenge
Each Monday throughout November, return for Mindfulness Monday and find your weekly mindful gratitude challenges. Share your progress, thoughts and results on social media using the #mindfulgratitudechallenge, or leave a comment on the post!
Spend time with each activity; avoid rushing through; prayerfully consider each activity ensuring you benefit from the gratitude exercise. If any of the activities seem difficult for you, set it aside for another day, but make an effort to complete each one. Each activity addresses a different aspect of gratitude, providing opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.
gentle exploration
Begin this week with gentle exploration through journaling. Write the word “gratitude” or “thanksgiving” at the top of a sheet of paper or in your journal. Then write down everything that comes to your mind when you think about the word. Don’t force anything, avoid “performing”; no one will see your paper! Notice both positive and negative thoughts related to the word. Allow free association; everything you write may not be directly related to gratitude, have fun!
Alternatively or additionally, write out 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Journal your thoughts about gratitude in everything; how do you feel about God’s will for you in this verse?
hindrances and helps to mindful gratitude
Spend time considering what your journaling revealed.
- What story from your past or present hinders you from giving thanks in everything?
- Reframe this story from God’s perspective.
- What circumstances bring you the most gratitude?
- Choose two different ways of expressing gratitude this week.
mindfully start with YOU!
When I worked through the above journaling exercise, one thing I noticed surprised me. I rarely if ever expressed gratitude related to myself: accentuated by deflecting gratitude expressed by others relating to me, my abilities or accomplishments.
God reminded me I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), I am His beloved child, (John 1:12) and He has written my name on the palms of His hands. (Isaiah 49:16) My identity in Christ is wonderful and magnificent far beyond anything I can fully understand. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
When I choose overlooking, diminishing or despising aspects of my appearance, personality, abilities and God inspired accomplishments, I dishonor God.
If you struggle in this way as I do, prayerfully spend time with God this week, asking Him to open your eyes to the beauty He sees in you. For your final mindful gratitude activity of the week, list three (or more!) things in your journal about yourself for which you are grateful.
Please avoid skipping this exercise; writing these things down provides an avenue of encouragement when the enemy of your soul speaks lies to your mind.
enjoy practicing mindful gratitude
The key to practicing mindful gratitude rests in intentionality and slowing down. Set aside a time for a quiet encounter between you and God, focused on gratitude. I recommend at least 30 minutes: select a quiet, uninterrupted spot and bring your journal and bible.
If journaling is not something you regularly do, simply keep a tablet or a few sheets of scrap paper nearby. Writing down your thoughts on gratitude as you move through each weekly activity is extremely powerful. And as one of my favorite writing quotes by Flannery O’Connor says, “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.”
But, most importantly, remember this time is for YOU: for your personal and spiritual growth, for your peace, joy and above all your intimacy with Christ. The more you enjoy practicing mindful gratitude, the more its transformative power will become a regular part of your life.
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I used to keep a gratitude journal years ago and it really helped me look for things to be grateful for. I now write in my journal every couple weeks at least about things I’m grateful for but also adding “why”. It makes me reflect more deeply. Thanks for your encouragement, Donna!
Lisa, I love that you add a “why” to your gratitude entries, I think it is important to reflect on our gratitude, it helps us mature spiritually and also increase our intimacy with God as we begin to see His hand in our lives more deeply.
Donna, this was such a beautiful post. I appreciated so much about it as it has been just about a month now that the Lord keeps bringing the word “gratitude” before me. And not because it is the month of November 🙂 I appreciated the reminder to be more intentional in expressing my gratitude to the Lord. And you brought that reminder in the sweetest and gentlest of ways. Thank you!
Joanne thank you for your kind words! I try to share what the Lord lays on my heart with kindness, compassion and as gently as He speaks to us. I praise God for His leading, and the way He speaks to others through my posts. I have been focusing more on gratitude too, and thought since most people turn their minds to gratitude this time of year it was a good time to write about it!
Donna I love this “ To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch Heaven.” so beautiful and true. I never thought about showing gratitude to myself. “ When I choose overlooking, diminishing or despising aspects of my appearance, personality, abilities and God inspired accomplishments, I dishonor God.”. I too do that. Thank you for sharing this blessed message that did prompt me to ask God to open my eyes. I certainly do not want to dishonor God. Blessings.
Paula, thank you for reading my post today! That quote really spoke to me, I have repeated it several times as I enjoy all autumn has to offer. It was very convicting for me to come face to face with how my attitude about myself dishonored God. I am His creation and He gave His life for me! I must praise Him for who he made me to be!
Such a lovely post. Mindfulness is so essential in every area of our lives. I loved this: The key to practicing mindful gratitude rests in intentionality and slowing down. I know I need to be more intentional.
Thank you, Lisa, mindfulness helps me be more intentional with my gratitude and stay present rather than “worrying” ahead!
Gratitude is one of the greatest tools we can use Donna.
It brings such clarity on the blessings we have in our lives & is important for our mental well-being as well as our spiritual growth.
Bless you sweet friend,
Jennifer
Thank you so much Jennifer! Gratitude is indispensible in the Christian life; it truly is our lifeline, breathing life into dry places!