I am so excited today to share this beautiful guest post by my sweet friend Mandy Johnson! With Thanksgiving right around the corner (can you even believe it??), I asked Mandy to share a post on gratitude. I love what she wrote! It’s a great reminder to all of us in this season!
“What is God’s will for us?”
Often times, when we ask this question, we crave specific direction toward our next destination in life.
Does God want me to take this job opportunity? If I say yes to this commitment, will I be making the wrong choice? Will I be making the right choice? What if I mess up His plans for me?
We deeply long to know what God has in store for us. We wholeheartedly want to follow Him, but struggle to discern what He wants for us. I’m learning more and more, that walking in God’s will means more than relying on Him to reveal our next steps in life; walking in God’s will is about becoming like Christ! To become like Christ, we must unite with Christ. To know His will, we must know Him.
As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says,
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
Paul’s words are guiding lights to fix our hearts and minds upon in all seasons. Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks. Repeat. Being thankful is more than just a “feel good” practice to remember when crisp air greets us and bright leaves fall; it’s how we live in God’s will year-round.
Gratitude heightens our awareness of God’s goodness. Even when we don’t feel an ounce of gratitude in our bones, Paul’s words encourage us to dig deeper. There is always something to be thankful for! Giving thanks in all circumstances is God’s will, always.
One of my favorite ways to choose joy, and remain in God’s will, is through writing down what I’m grateful for each morning. This practice reminds me to not only seek God for his provisions, but for his presence. I start my morning by pressing start on my Mr. Coffee coffee maker, pick out my favorite mug to drink out of, and wait for hot drips of coffee to fill the pot. Once the pot is full, I pour out enough coffee to fill my cup and make my way to my journal to begin each day with a thankful heart.
There are mornings I feel my pen continuously move, listing at least 100 things I’m thankful for. Then, candidly, there are other mornings I struggle to list three.
Life ebbs and flows, and so can our level of gratitude. It’s hard to feel thankful when nothing is going right; when life feels so heavy it could crush us. Nothing feels like it’s going well right now, how can I be thankful in this season? These are the moments that stretch our faith; the ones that challenge us to truly unite with Christ.
As we enter into the holiday season, I pray you feel encouraged to choose joy through expressing gratitude each day. Seek God for His presence, not just His provision. Daily expressions of thankfulness help us cultivate a life lived in God’s will.
As you reflect on your day, week, month, and year; what are you thankful for? Remember, as a child of God, you are chosen and loved. Rejoice, pray, and give thanks!
Mandy Johnson is a high-energy writer and speaker with a passion for encouraging women in their faith. After years of navigating God’s unpredicted twists and turns, Mandy confidently believes following Jesus means surrendering control—not begrudgingly, but joyfully! You can find Mandy writing weekly devotionals through her blog as she cheers you on in your faith. Mandy currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Kyle, and their fur-child, Dolly.
Website: www.mandycjohnson.com
Instagram: @mandycjohnson