In the middle of a series of brief admonitions to church members in Thessalonica, Paul gives the following counsel:
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Amulek gave the same counsel to the poor among the Zoramites near the end of his remarks to them:
Live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which [God] doth bestow upon you.
Alma 34:38
Commenting on Paul’s counsel, President Russell M. Nelson said, “One of the surest antidotes for despair, discouragement, and spiritual lethargy is gratitude.” He suggested some things we can thank God for:
- “The beauty of the earth”
- “The Restoration of the gospel”
- “The countless ways He and His Son make Their power available to us here on this earth”
- “The scriptures”
- “Angels who respond to our pleas to God for help”
- “Revelation”
- “Eternal families”
Then, he added, “Most of all, thank God for the gift of His Son and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which makes it possible for us to fulfill the missions for which we have been sent to earth” (“The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” General Conference, April 2022, footnote 4).
As I’ve thought about President Nelson’s list today, I’ve recognized that many of my expressions of gratitude are fairly mundane. Just as we should avoid having our prayers sound like a shopping list of requests, we should also avoid thanking God for only small, tactical blessings while failing to mention or acknowledge the larger and longer-lasting ones. I think I can benefit from adding some of the suggestions from President Nelson’s list alongside some of the more specific and short-term blessings that readily come to mind when I pray.
Today, I will express my gratitude to God for the many blessings I have received from Him. I will remember that gratitude is a key to spiritual momentum and happiness.