This New Month, Let Gratitude Lead

Have you ever received help so tangible and timely, that you were certain you'd never forget it for the rest of your life?

Now pause for a moment and see if you still remember it like it just happened?

Maybe it wasn’t help from people. Maybe it was something deeper - a blessing that came when you didn’t even ask, or a whisper from heaven that met a need you had not yet voiced. Did you stop to acknowledge it? Or did you move on like it wasn’t something you truly needed?

Well, sometimes, we get so used to grace that we forget it’s still a gift.

Have you taken a moment lately to appreciate God - not just for the blessings you prayed for, but especially for the ones that came unannounced? For who He is, beyond what He gives?

Psalms 103:2 says "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." — Psalms 103:2 (N KJV). This verse reminds me of something subtle but real - the fact that we can actually forget. We can forget the mercies, the unexpected answers, and even the quiet ways God came through for us again and again.

That’s why the psalmist spoke to his soul—to stir up remembrance, to shift into gratitude. One of the purest ways our soul blesses the Lord is by remembering all He has done. Gratitude isn’t just polite—it’s spiritual posture. It guards our hearts from becoming so familiar with God’s blessings that we stop seeing His hand in them.

A Heart of Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Habakkuk 3:17-18, Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 69:30-33, Psalm 9:1, Psalm 61:17, JOHN 11:41-42, Matthew 14:17-19, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6-7, 2nd Corinthians 9:15,

 

I am not sure if you have heard of the statement "When thank you is not enough, we say "Thank you very much". If you have, you should understand the depth of gratitude, but if you haven't, let me try to explain better.

 

You see, I am of the Yoruba nation, largely situate in the South Western extration of Nigeria and here, our words and expressions mean a lot. This includes tones of respect, happiness, and even gratitude. For example if I give you a gift and you say "Thanks", it means something. If I give you a gift and you say "thank you", it means something else. and lastly, if I give you a gift and you say "thank you very much", it says so much. 

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful - the readiness to show appreciation for a kindness or benefit received. One of God's instructions to us is to give thanks in all things - "in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The true test of thanksgiving is measured when we continually give thanks to God in the face of battles, pain and suffering… You don't just give thanks to God when there is plenty and abundance. 

The act of giving thanks to God is an act of faith that assures you that joy comes in the morning.

Living with a heart of gratitude means that you find a reason to appreciate everything around you. 

True worship to God can only stem out of a thankful Heart. So, I am personally grateful to God for these 5 things.

1. I'm grateful to God for Salvation
2. I'm grateful to God for life
3. I'm grateful to God for my family 
4. I'm grateful to God for provision 
5. I'm grateful to God for wisdom

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; it is maintaining a thankful heart and thankful heart is God's will for us. 

God's will for us is giving thanks IN all things and not "for" things. That is, regardless of the situation we're in, gratitude is expected. When there's rain or no rain, when there's harvest or no harvest, always give thanks to God. Scriptures confirm this to us in Habakkuk 3:17-19 which says "though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18  yet I will rejoice in the Lord,     I will be joyful in God my Savior."  These verses prove that the true test of thankfulness is we continually give thanks to God despite our troubles. The heart of thanksgiving is an act of faith and an application for more. 

A heart full of gratitude means we are being thankful for everything around us. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 has established that we should give thanks for everything.

Hebrew 13:13- One of the sacrifices we need to offer to God is that of praise. 

Psalms 69:30- The ways we give thanks to God are through songs, our prayers, with our lives, by living godly, etc. 

psalm 9:1- The state of our heart is important in giving thanks to God. There is a need to check our hearts to ensure we give thanks with the whole of our heart and with purity too. 

John 11:41,42- When challenges come our way to test our faith, we should not forget to thank God with the whole of our heart still.

Matthew 14:17-19- Gratitude glorifies God and helps us stay focused. 

Philippians 4:6-7- One of the ways it shows that your heart is still with God is by giving thanks to God in all things. We need to cultivate the habit of giving thanks to God in all things.

2 Corinthians 9:15- Words cannot fully express all what God has done and all He is yet even, to do for us.

*CAN WE GIVE THANKS?*

 

Grateful Beyond the Noise

The Psalmist in Psalms 94:19 (NKJV) says “in the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Looking at this verse of scripture and relating it to my experience, I often wonder what my life would have looked like if God was not in the picture. Truthfully, I can't even imagine where I’d be without Him. One thing is certain - with all that's happening in the world - unsettling headlines, unexpected situations, and the chaos that seems to show up uninvited, life would have been unbearable without God's steady presence.

There was a time when everything felt like it was falling apart. We were pressed on every side, left with fewer people and even fewer options. That season revealed just how fragile human support can be. Yet, in the absence of crowds, we learned to rely on God more than ever before.

It was during those quiet, lonely days that we discovered the depth of His faithfulness. When others stepped away, He stepped in. When doors closed, He made a way. And when blessings came through people, we knew it wasn’t by chance or connections—it was clearly God orchestrating things behind the scenes. Every provision, every breakthrough, was His doing. He finished what He started.

Read: 5 Kinds of Christians you'd find on Thanksgiving Sundays 

Before you try other options, turn to Him first. God should never be our last resort—He’s the Source. Starting with Him is the best decision we can make. Because when we anchor our lives in Him, we find peace that defies logic and joy that rises above circumstances.

The psalmist wrote many songs from lonely places. Yet, even in pain, he found reasons to thank God. Thanksgiving wasn’t just something he did—it was his weapon, his perspective shift. He could still see God’s unfailing love and thank Him for the gift of life itself.

When our eyes are fixed on our problems, we risk taking God's presence for granted. And often, the very things we overlook are the same things someone else is praying desperately for.

So in seasons of pressure and in seasons of peace, here are a few ways to posture our hearts in gratitude:

1. Thank God for His Faithfulness

His hand over our lives is undeniable. His provision, grace, and presence—even when unseen—are constant. His track record is proof we can face both today and tomorrow with confidence.

2. Thank God for His blessings

Every good thing comes from Him (James 1:17). And the greatest gift of all—salvation through Christ—was freely given. We now have the Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal life, and the assurance that we are never alone. These are priceless gifts that should never be taken lightly.

3. Thank God for His plans

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you…” (Jeremiah 29:11). His plans are for peace, hope, and a future. Even when we can’t see the full picture, we trust the One who painted it.

I have learnt that Gratitude isn’t just a feeling - it’s a choice. So, I encourage you to choose to give thanks daily. Pause. Reflect. Speak it out loud. Write it down. Share it with someone. Through your life, let each day become an opportunity to notice God’s goodness in the big and small things. You must learn to always acknowledge God even in quiet moments because He is the source of everything we have, receive, and hope for.

And maybe today, start by asking yourself:

What are five things I can thank God for right now?

 

As one month draws to a close and another one begins, let your soul bless the Lord. Recall His goodness. Recount His faithfulness. Reflect on His mercy. And from that place, stay thankful—not as a phase, but as your default setting.

Gratitude shouldn't wear off. It should wear in.

So I ask you gently: In what ways has God been good to you?

How have you encouraged your soul not to forget His benefits?

Let’s not just step into a new month - we can step in remembering.