The world sure seems like an uncertain place at the moment with lots of questions and pressures all around. Financial and economic pressures as well as the extra home life pressures of home-schooling and working from home. The last few weeks of COVID lockdown has been a challenging and tiring season for so many of us. It seems only natural to feel defeated and depleted during such times but what does God say about facing such overwhelming and challenging times? What tools does He give us in His word to equip us for such seasons? God promises us to never to bring anything across our paths that we cannot handle. (1 Cor 1-:13) He also instructs us to praise Him in our storms and challenging seasons. Here are a few of my favourite scriptures on this topic- I hope they can encourage you as a family to always be thankful no matter what season you’re facing:
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.
Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 28:7: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
A grateful heart is a very powerful tool as it serves as a magnet for miracles and grace. So if all this is true, how do we teach this to our kids and how can we adopt a thankfulness lifestyle as a family? Here’s a great idea- create a gratitude jar or family journal. When anything lovely happens in your home make a fuss about it and write it down and pop it in the gratitude jar or write it down in the journal. Have the kids help decorate a jar or journal and make sure you help kids identify moments in their day that can go in the jar/ journal. Choose a day once a week to open and share what’s been written down.
Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
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