The Kind of Thankfulness That Changes You
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
You probably know when you come to read a devotion on this day, what exactly it will be about. It’s a day full of plates of food, people you may not see often, and moments that are supposed to feel special. But if we’re honest, Thanksgiving can sometimes feel forced. We say what we’re thankful for because it’s expected. But what if you pressed deeper than just listing the good stuff?
What if you saw gratitude not as a reaction to your circumstances but as a posture of your heart? Not just “thank you for my house, my job, my people,” but “God, thank you for staying with me through the stuff no one sees. Thank you for not walking out when I was at my worst. Thank you for grace that covered me before I even asked for it.”
This kind of thankfulness goes beyond what’s on your table. It reaches into the pain you didn’t think you’d make it through. It acknowledges that while you didn’t choose everything that’s happened, God has never stopped choosing you in the middle of it. Gratitude like that shifts your perspective. It softens your heart and rewires your mindset.
God’s not asking you to be thankful for all things, but He is calling you to be thankful in all things. That means even in the chaos, even in the waiting, even when the healing hasn’t come yet, you can still say, “God, I trust You. And I’m grateful You’re still here.”
So today, don’t settle for surface-level gratitude. Dig deeper. Look back and remember where He met you. Speak out the moments He carried you. Thank Him for the ways He’s worked in silence and the ways He’s still writing your story.
Real gratitude doesn’t just change your mood. It transforms your heart. Let it change you today.
You probably know when you come to read a devotion on this day, what exactly it will be about. It’s a day full of plates of food, people you may not see often, and moments that are supposed to feel special. But if we’re honest, Thanksgiving can sometimes feel forced. We say what we’re thankful for because it’s expected. But what if you pressed deeper than just listing the good stuff?
What if you saw gratitude not as a reaction to your circumstances but as a posture of your heart? Not just “thank you for my house, my job, my people,” but “God, thank you for staying with me through the stuff no one sees. Thank you for not walking out when I was at my worst. Thank you for grace that covered me before I even asked for it.”
This kind of thankfulness goes beyond what’s on your table. It reaches into the pain you didn’t think you’d make it through. It acknowledges that while you didn’t choose everything that’s happened, God has never stopped choosing you in the middle of it. Gratitude like that shifts your perspective. It softens your heart and rewires your mindset.
God’s not asking you to be thankful for all things, but He is calling you to be thankful in all things. That means even in the chaos, even in the waiting, even when the healing hasn’t come yet, you can still say, “God, I trust You. And I’m grateful You’re still here.”
So today, don’t settle for surface-level gratitude. Dig deeper. Look back and remember where He met you. Speak out the moments He carried you. Thank Him for the ways He’s worked in silence and the ways He’s still writing your story.
Real gratitude doesn’t just change your mood. It transforms your heart. Let it change you today.
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5 Comments
And still God showing off again. Good morning to you Pastor Ed with the little strength I have right now. So tired pushing through staring at the sand commander as I write this. On the way to work I thanked God for all the tough times and hard work. All the things I don’t like and wouldn’t be able to experience if it had not been for Him. Praying that as right now I can’t see but I trust that He does know what He is doing. Then after a tough talk last night and tons of things that have made things very difficult the past couple weeks God is doing things and using these things to build something. I get to work and then open this reading. You just can’t make this s*!# up. No matter what my problems are as long as God is still here then I am gonna be a-o-k! May God bless you Pastor Ed, our church, and all those crying out for God in San Antonio. May we meet them where they are and do as our Lord leads us to. And thank you!
Though I have to work today, a very dark place. My Thanksgiving is everyday I am here though, it is not forced, but with faith and love. I will reflect His Will that He entrusted me with for these incarcerated children of God. I truly give thanks for this.
Thank you Pastor Ed for this word today. It had me crying because lately I have been thanking God for just always being there. For not giving up on me when I’m not at my best. Thanking Him for being Abba Father the one who loves because He is love. Awe Gratitude is such a good feeling of knowing Papa has me and always has!!! Bless you sir and many you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Pastor Ed, First of all I want to give God Glory today because I have unexplainable JOY! I have JOY because of God's unconditional LOVE, JOY AND PEACE! Only Jesus knows all of the pain I've been through! Only Jesus truly knows my heart and soul and life! Only Jesus knows the good, bad and ugly BUT GOD IS SO GOOD! I wish I could put into words how grateful I am for Jesus Christ as my Savior Lord and Best
I wasn't done ? I was saying that although I'm thankful for friends and family, Jesus Jesus is my best friend who really does stick closer than a brother! I'm also thankful that we still have the privilege to worship God freely here in the U. S.!!! I'm thankful for the freedom I have in my home, for shelter, food, clothing, the freedom to watch Christian shows and worship the Lord freely and peacefully in my home and car! I'm thankful for you and our church family at CBC! I'm thankful for my community group and how precious their friendships are to me! I'm so thankful we can worship Jesus Freely at CBC! I'm thankful for the balance you have to be a Pastor who is serious about the truth of the Gospel yet wholesome and fun loving! I love the balance you have with family and church! We couldn't ask for a better Pastor! I love how you and Stephanie always keep it real yet fun ?