Category: Christianity

Thankful for Change? Not Really

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor 12:9)

As Thanksgiving draws near, I’ve focused on gratefulness as the theme of my blog posts. This week, I’m thinking about change and how to be thankful for those things that are, quite honestly, unwelcome and unwanted. Change is hard, and it’s often accompanied by some sort of trial. How can I turn my heart toward thankfulness in difficult times? Continue reading “Thankful for Change? Not Really” →

The Benefits of Gratitude

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” (Ps 28:7)

November is well underway, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This is the time of year when we think about the things for which we’re thankful. But focusing on our blessings shouldn’t happen just once a year. How can we make gratitude a part of our daily lives?

Here are four benefits of gratitude:

  1. Gratitude lowers stress levels. Focusing on feelings of contentment produces lower stress levels. When I intentionally concentrate on the good things in my life, I gain perspective. I’m more aware of my blessings – and how I can be a blessing to others.
  2. Gratitude improves overall health. In general, grateful people have fewer aches and pains than others and are more likely to go to regular check-ups, which will contribute to longevity. Those who are grateful experience more empathy and less aggression. I want some of that, please!
  3. Gratitude improves self-esteem. Did you know that grateful people are also less prone to envy or regret? An attitude of gratitude has been shown to reduce comparisons. I’ve noticed that when I focus on my own blessings, I’m less inclined to become jealous of someone else’s accomplishments.
  4. Gratitude improves my relationship with God. One of the ways I’ve learned to express gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal. While I’m not always faithful to note things in my journal every day, a quick glance through the journal shows me that God is faithful to provide. For the last few years, I’ve written down one thing for which I’m thankful that day, and then, I write out a prayer of thanksgiving to start my day off on a positive note. Writing out my prayers has made me more aware of the relationship between my blessings and my God. This process has also helped me become closer to God as it forces me to think more deeply about the things God has given me.

Gratitude is something that you can learn to express. Focus on the things that you have instead of the things that you don’t, and thank God as you remember how much he’s given you.

Dear Jesus, thank you for all the blessings that you’ve given me. Help me to develop an attitude of gratitude in all I do each day. Amen.

Giving Thanks

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’” (2 Chron 5:13)

At Thanksgiving, we gather with family and friends to express our gratitude and focus on our blessings. More than any other time of the year, we focus on what’s most important to us. We experience renewed hope and find deeper joy. How can we grow our faith and live a life of thanksgiving all through the year? Continue reading “Giving Thanks” →

Finding Common Ground

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Cor 9:22b-23 NLT)

When I lived in Germany in the late 1990s, I spent most of my time at the Army base’s library. My then-husband worked and was out on maneuvers a lot, and I couldn’t find a job on the small base, so I had a lot of time to myself.

An older, retired Army man served as the base librarian. With his white hair shaped in a crew cut and his gruff demeanor, I felt intimidated by him. Sometimes, he was friendly, but more often than not, he would bark out a hello or glare at me when I entered the building. Even so, I didn’t stay away. The library was my refuge, and I wasn’t going to let a gruff old man keep me away. Continue reading “Finding Common Ground” →

When Creativity Stops Flowing

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Ps 19:14)

This blog post almost didn’t happen. Writing an original blog post each week along with other fresh material can be a daunting task. Because I write in a devotional format, I don’t feel comfortable just throwing something up on my blog for the sake of meeting a deadline. I approach each entry thoughtfully and with prayer so that the Lord can use my words for his purposes.

I maintain a long list of possible blog post topics, but even though I had potential subject matter on hand, I couldn’t dredge up the words to pull it all together this week. When I prayed for guidance, I heard…silence. And then I realized that the silence, the lack of an idea, the difficulty writing a coherent blog post, was the idea for this entry. Continue reading “When Creativity Stops Flowing” →