I started a journal to give thanks to the Lord a few years ago, and I have over 11,000 entries. Each morning, during my quiet time with the Lord, I take a few minutes to reflect on my blessings and list between 5 to 10 things I'm grateful for. I thank God for His provision and protection, and I try to be specific, such as giving thanks for a birthday, a doctor's appointment, a good night's sleep, and waking me to see another day.

Recording my thanks to the Lord is a great way to start the day, and it puts me in a positive frame of mind. It helps me focus on the blessings as I go through each day. It took some discipline to get started, but now it's a solid habit. I'm thankful that God created us with the ability to give thanks, and He instructs us to do so. I think it blesses Him and us.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (1 Chronicles 16:34)

The Bible tells us over and over again to give thanks to the Lord. He has done so much for us, and we need to express our appreciation to Him for everything. Gratitude will enhance your life and honor the Lord.

If you document your gratitude in a journal or on a computer, you'll have a record of His blessings and faithfulness to you. You'll be able to recall the Lord's unfailing love and wonderful deeds that He has done just for you. Perhaps you'll find, as I did, that every day there are reasons to give thanks to the Lord.

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

We can give thanks to the Lord for His great love. The best "human love" may disappoint us from time to time but God's unfailing love is dependable, ceaseless, steadfast, persistent, loyal, inexhaustible and infinite.

We can give thanks to the Lord for His wonderful deeds for mankind. He loves to show mercy, and He is gracious toward those who are humble in heart and in difficult circumstances. If we're in trouble, we can cry out to Him and know that He will hear and help us. The Lord is always compassionate, caring and gracious toward us.

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Psalms 86:5)

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” (Psalms 25:10)

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (Psalm 103:8)

The Lord has done many wonderful deeds for mankind and we should thank Him for them all. I think by far the greatest deed that we can give thanks for is that He graciously met our need for a Savior. Mankind needed forgiveness for sinning against a Holy God, so God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who lived a sinless life and gave His life by dying on a cross so that we could be forgiven and receive eternal life. We can give thanks to the Lord Jesus for His sacrifice, because He died to make us right with God:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

What will you give thanks for to the Lord today?

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