In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Bible says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. "
Major blessings might include things like meeting the love of your life, getting a major promotion, finding out that you’re expecting a child, or receiving an unexpected, meaningful gift. A prayer of thanks after a blessing might be something like: “Heavenly Father, I am so humbled that you have blessed me with the gift of a child. I thank you with my whole heart. Please protect my unborn baby and give me wisdom to be a good parent. Amen. " If you get caught up in the moment and you forget to thank God right when something good happens, it’s okay if you pray later when you do think about it. As you keep practicing gratitude, you’ll likely find that over time it will become easier to remember God in the moment.
Psalms 7:17 says: “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. " For instance, if you see one person doing a kind act for another, you might say a short prayer like, “Father, thank You for allowing me to see people showing each other the same love You have for us. "
In Psalms 118:29, the Bible also says: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever. " For instance, you might pray something like, “Dear God, I’m having a hard time today, but I know that You are watching over me. Thank You for Your unconditional, unfailing love, and please help to uplift my spirit. Amen. " Even if things are going well, you can still pray to God to thank Him for loving you.
To live for God, pray and read the Bible each day, turn away from your sins, and listen for His guidance in all of the decisions that you make.
For instance, if you have been blessed with wealth, you might start a nonprofit organization that serves lunch to kids during the summer when they don’t have access to school meals. If you’ve been blessed with the ability to be a good listener and a comfort to people who are hurting, you might decide to have a career as a counselor.
Luke 14:11 says: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. " In Proverbs 22:4, the Bible says: “Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. "
For instance, if someone says, “Your home is beautiful,” you might say, “Thank you! God has really blessed my life and I’m very grateful to Him. " If they ask you more about your faith in God, you might invite them to come to church with you so they can learn about God’s generosity as well.
The Bible is full of examples of God’s followers using music to worship him. Psalms 95:1-3 says: “O Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. " You don’t have to be the world’s best musician to honor God with your song! As long as your praise comes from your heart, that will be good enough.
