What If?

Read

Psalm 103:2 “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Think

In a world that constantly pulls our attention to what’s broken or what’s missing, it’s easy to feel like we’re running on empty. We spend our days moving from one task to the next, eyes fixed on what hasn’t been done, hearts weighed down by what isn’t right. But what if we slowed down to truly see, not just to count our blessings, but to embrace them fully? G.K. Chesterton said, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Imagine what life might look like if we embraced this wonder—if we let gratitude guide our gaze and settle our hearts.

Starting the day with thankfulness could feel like a balm for the soul. Instead of waking up to a list of “have-to’s” and “what-if’s,” imagine pausing, even for a moment, to name the simple gifts God has placed in front of us. Gratitude has a quiet way of changing the landscape of our lives. It can turn the daily grind into something more—a masterpiece rather than a competition, a harmonious choir rather than a dreaded chore. When we let thankfulness take root, our focus shifts from what we lack to what we’ve been given, from striving to be more to resting in what already is. Suddenly, life feels less like a series of tasks and more like a gentle song, reminding us of the grace that surrounds us.

Think about the moments when we’re most tempted to complain: the pile of dirty dishes that no one washed, the mountain of laundry that seems to grow by the hour, the house that’s never quite as spotless as we’d like. What if, instead of sighing, we let these things become reminders of God’s provision? Those dishes are there because we have food to eat. That laundry pile means we have clothes on our backs. And the house—whether big or small, tidy or cluttered—it’s a shelter, a place of refuge. Even the very breath in our lungs is a gift, one we couldn’t give ourselves.

Today, take a moment to breathe, to notice, to give thanks. Ask God to open your eyes to the goodness woven through each part of your day. When we choose gratitude, even the ordinary becomes sacred, and our hearts find a quiet joy that can carry us through whatever comes. These simple, heartfelt thanks don’t just transform our perspective; they help us see life as a gift, unfolding with each moment we’re willing to cherish.

Apply

Set a gratitude reminder – Set an alarm on your phone at a specific time each day as a reminder to pause and give thanks, especially if you’re in a difficult or busy season.

Pray

God, help me to see your goodness in the ordinary moments of my day. Teach me to focus on what I have rather than what I lack, and to appreciate each gift you’ve placed in my life. May my heart be filled with gratitude. In Jesus’ name. Amen.