Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

Have you ever had one of those days when everything that can go wrong does? I remember one morning, I woke up and my pet fish was dead, my parents were going to Hawaii later that day on vacation and they weren’t taking me. And to top it all off, things weren’t going well at school and each day I went stressed me out. That day, I felt like everything was going wrong and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

I’m sure you’ve probably had a day like that where tons of things were going wrong for you and it just felt like your world was spinning out of control. In moments like those, it is a challenge to get out of bed, let along be thankful like today’s Bible verse encourages us to do.

God wouldn’t tell us to do something that we couldn’t do. So it must be possible to be thankful in all circumstances. How do we do it? I think it’s just by finding one small thing you can thank God for. Maybe it’s the fact that you didn’t have to go hungry at breakfast. Or perhaps simply the fact that you woke up in the morning. There’s power in finding a small thing to thank God for. As you focus on that small thing, others will come to your mind. The more you focus on the things in life that you can be thankful for, the more thankful you’ll become.

Today’s Truth: As you focus on being thankful, the easier it is to be happy

So choose today to find small ways to be thankful. As you focus on being thankful, the easier it becomes to be happy. So develop a lifestyle of thankfulness today.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)

Aren’t you glad that you can give thanks to the Lord? God is good to you. You didn’t deserve His love but He gave it to you anyway. God since the beginning of time has been chasing after you and desiring a relationship with you.

Today you can give thanks to God. Your life might not be perfect. Things might not always turn out as you’d hoped, but regardless of what you see around you, what God has done for you is a reason to give thanks.

God is good and his love endures forever. God isn’t going to get tired of you one day. His love is for you and it’s forever. That’s good news.

Today’s Truth: God’s love is for you and it’s forever.

Today, choose to spend some time giving God thanks. Thank Him for His great plan to rescue you from sin. Thank Him for His love that never gave up on you. Tell God how great it is to know Him and to be His child.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NLT)

It’s easy to forget the things that God has done in our lives. We just get so busy. And in our busyness, we forget the time that God provided a way for us.

What if we took a few minutes today and thanked God for His faithfulness in our lives? Can you think of two or three things that God has done for you, and then take a moment to thank Him for those things?

It’s powerful for our outlook on life if we’re able to thank God. It helps us be more thankful and more in love with God when we take the time to remind ourselves of what God has done and to thank Him for His goodness. Today, take that time. Make some space in your life to thank Him.

Today’s Truth: Take time to thank God.

Have you noticed how it’s so easy to become ungrateful? We can slip into it without even trying. It’s so easy to look at the things others have and wish you had them. Then you begin to be ungrateful for the things you do have.

However, God’s word challenges us to be thankful in all circumstances.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

So begin small. See if you have a favorite food that you could be thankful for. Then look to see if you have a piece of clothing that you can be thankful for. How about a favorite scripture that you could thank God for? If you begin to look, you’ll see that while you might not have as much or the same as someone else, you do have things to be thankful for.

So take some time today to find things you can be thankful for. If you’ll look, you’ll realize that even if you’re in the middle of some bad circumstances, there is still something to thank God for.

Today’s Truth: You have something to thank God for.

What are you facing today? Is your family facing lack, and you’re not sure that your bills will be paid this month? Does fear torment you? What problem are you facing?

Think about that problem, then determine to go to God’s Word for the answer.

The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s power limited? You will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.” – Numbers 11:23 HSCB

God’s power is not limited. If He promises something to you in His word it has to happen. Your job is simply to believe that His power is able to meet your need and to believe it.

It’s not always easy to stand firm believing, especially when you’re faced with something that seems really big. But God is faithful. If He’s promised you an answer in His word, then it has to happen.

So be encouraged today, God’s Word will come to pass in your life. Keep believing and you’ll see the power of God work in your life.

Today’s Truth: If God promises us something in His Word, it has to happen.

I remember hearing my dad’s voice at tennis meets. For some reason, I could always hear him cheering me on. When he would yell my name, I knew that he was there and he was watching.

In the same way, God has called us by name. He calls us by name, which speaks to His deep love and knowledge of you.

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. – Isaiah 43:1 (NLT)

So when we go out, when we make decisions each day, we should be mindful that God has called us by name. God knows us and as a result, we should be making decisions and living our lives in ways that bring glory to God.

We’re not accidents, but we’ve been created and called on purpose. Let’s determine to go out and make the world a better place for Jesus today!

Today’s Truth: I’ve been called by God.

Have you ever been afraid of something? Maybe as a little kid, you were afraid of the dark. And that fear kept you from doing certain things. Fear of the dark would keep you from exploring your dark basement, or even from going to bed at night.

Fear can keep us from God too. Perhaps we haven’t experienced His true nature, and so we fear Him and avoid Him. But God tells us in today’s verse to not fear. We don’t have to be afraid of God. He loves us and redeemed us.

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. – Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)

When something is redeemed, it’s been bought back. Often it’s for a high price. And that’s what God did for us. He redeemed us. He bought us back. And because of that, we don’t have to walk in fear toward God. God loves us and paid the price for us to know Him in a real and deep way.

So today, think about this verse. Realize that you’re created, formed, and redeemed. That means to God, you’re valuable!

And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. – Luke 12:7

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wished that there was something different about yourself? Maybe you wish you had a different hair color. It’s easy to nitpick everything that is wrong about yourself until you don’t like who you are at all.

And it’s true. You’re not perfect. No one is.

But even in the midst of your imperfection, God loves you. He wants the best for you. He knows you so well that He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Today’s Challenge: Be Happy to Be You

So even though there are things that aren’t perfect about yourself, you can choose to be happy to be you. God sees your potential in Him. He sees the plans He has for you, and He’s excited about who you are and what He’s called you to do.

God created you for a purpose. He loves you, and there is nothing wrong with who you are. So today, choose to be happy to be you.