When you think of gratitude, what comes to mind?

For me, it is an image of me being still — a holy pause to take note of what’s around me. I am grateful when I walk alongside the ocean, taking in the beauty of creation. I pause in awe when my child masters a new skill or offers me some of their sloppy affection. The moments after a lovely reunion with friends, in which your heart soars because you know how lucky you are to have them by your side. Sometimes it’s a long exhale, giving thanks that the worst-case did not become reality. It’s those quiet moments in between when your heart knows and remembers that God is good and so faithful in your life.

We need more of those moments this Thanksgiving, and a key element to experiencing them is slowing down. I am preaching to myself here. You should see my fall calendar! Every day, there are detailed directions written about the places I need to be, the tasks I need to complete, and the goals I’ve laid out for me and my family. There are so many moving pieces that I oversee in my life, pausing is a rarity!

Yet, slow, grateful living is a key part of God’s way that we must embrace. Thanksgiving is a perfect reminder that life is not just meant to be done, it’s meant to be appreciated. Let’s explore some ways we can cultivate a grateful heart this Thanksgiving.

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Anger is a natural human reaction. But when it leads to sinful actions, thoughts, or behaviors, then something needs to change. These five strategies can help you practice patience and godly mindfulness so that when stressors come up in your life, you can react with peace, not explosive anger.

I've found that when we're feeling that rising tension, stopping and asking God to show us his mercies, give us that strength, be our portion, then we can find hope for our days.

Life is full of waiting.

Waiting to graduate. Waiting for a promotion. Waiting to get married. Waiting to start a family. Waiting for results. Waiting to see if treatment works. Waiting to hear from a loved one. Waiting for a court date. For an adoption date. Waiting to retire. And on and on the waiting goes.

God made our world to exist bound by the confines of space and time, which made waiting inevitable. We cannot skip ahead or rewind. All we have is the present moment, and we must embrace the journey from here to the places we hope to go in the future. God must have a purpose in all this waiting, but waiting well is rarely easy for us. We are impatient creatures, always reaching into the future before learning the lessons of today.

Thankfully, his word is full of encouragement and promises for the waiting seasons. He promises to bless us, strengthen us, sustain us, to show us his goodness, to give us rest, and so much more as we wait on his plan to unfold. Here are some verses and prayers we can lean on when the waiting gets tough and our hearts are in need of encouragement.

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Sometimes you just need a reset. Carve out just 15-30 minutes per day this upcoming week to spend time in the Psalms, learning about who God is through the Psalmist's poetry. This guide includes a prayer for each day and space for personal reflection.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God is always at work making the impossible possible. We often ask for His help with the challenges we face in everyday life, as well, but should we be expecting more?

Abundance is a product of love. Love moves us to desire all the best things for the object of our affection. Just as a groom chooses the most beautiful ring, prepares a lovely home, and covers his bride with praise, God as a result of his great love does the same for us.

Our modern world is fast-paced, demanding, and loud. But the Bible calls us to lay down our burdens and rest in Jesus. When even the Christians of this world are calling us to a louder, bigger, more earth-shattering faith, it's important to pause and remember the value in a quiet, steady faith.

Life comes at you fast—but you don’t have to figure it out alone. God offers wisdom for every choice you face today.

We, like the Israelites of the Old Testament, are forgetful. When God works a miracle for us or we have good things in our lives, we praise Him! But the very next day when the clouds come, our hearts are easily hardened. Here are four crucial ways to remember who God is and what He has done for us.

How can we better recognize that we were made for each other and relying on each other is God's plan, not our failure?

Watch how pausing to celebrate one another will infuse a new level of joy into your marriage.

Have you ever been so angry with your spouse not for what they said but how they said it?

Your marriage is meant for more than comfort or romance. Discover how to live out a covenant that reflects Christ, strengthens your home, and inspires others.