30 Day Challenge

Day One hundred sixteen: I'm trying a new thing this month. It's call "Growing in Gratitude: A 30-Day Challenge." Each day has a passage of Scripture, a short idea, and a prayer challenge.

Today's passage is Colossian 3:12:17. I love Colossians chapter three. In high school, I was challenged to memorize this chapter. It is a section of Scripture that probably sticks most firmly in my mind - at least of the more lengthy ones.

As I read, these words stood out to me. They are a part of the reason I am doing my gratitude challenge this year. God calls me to a lifestyle of thankfulness.

"And be thankful."

"...with gratitude in your hearts..."

"...giving thanks to God the Father..."

The author of the 30-day challenge describes this kind of daily gratitude as "making each day a treasure hunt." I like that concept. My daily blessings are treasures. Treasures that are hidden in plain sight until I take the time to seek them out.

According to her scale, I find it difficult to rate my "Gratitude Quotient." Before I started my challenge I probably would have landed at the bottom level most of the time - that is "I'm a whiner! I tend to focus on my problems and I frequently express them to others." Now, I feel like I'm closer to the top two levels because I take the time to express gratitude daily - I'm hesitant to say that though. Some days I don't feel grateful and it is hard for me come up with something to write about. I'll just say I'm not where I desire to be in terms of gratitude.

God, thank you for a new way to view this gratitude challenge. Thank you for the time Nancy put into developing this challenge and her willingness to share it with the world. Please use this challenge to increase my gratitude, give me eyes to see my blessings more clearly. Develop a spirit of thankfulness in me.



What's this about? I decided on my birthday to make a commitment to being intentionally thankful. I challenged myself to post one thing I am thankful for everyday this year.