You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
(Psalm 30:11–12)
What do you like best about the Thanksgiving holiday? You have a couple of days off and you probably eat a lot of turkey. Do you like the white meat or maybe the drumstick? You may enjoy cranberries, sweet potatoes or yams, pumpkin pie, or maybe a special recipe from your family. There are a lot of benefits you get on Thanksgiving. And there are many reasons to be thankful.
Truth is, there are real benefits to being thankful every day of the year. Medical scientists have studied the social, physical, and psychological benefits of gratitude. And they’ve found that practicing thankfulness increases happiness and life satisfaction, reduces anxiety and depression, strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and helps you sleep better. The studies conclude that when you become grateful, you develop better ways of coping with difficulties and handling stress in life. Wise Solomon knew this thousands of years ago. He wrote, “A cheerful heart is good medi-cine” (Proverbs 17:22). It’s literally healthy to “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!” (Psalm 107:1).
My Prayer: I have many things to be thankful for, including that I benefit physically and emotionally by being thankful. You want me to be grateful and You reward me for it when I practice it. Help me practice it more often. I will tell someone this week of the many things for which I am thankful. And I will start with You—I am so thankful that You died for me, made me God’s child, and have given me eternal life in a relationship with You. Amen.
Taken from #Truth by Josh McDowell with permission of Barbour Publishing.
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