When was the last time you thanked God for the people He has brought into your life? Try it sometime. You will be astounded at the number of people for who you can give thanks. Start with your immediate family and move on to your extended family. (You may find yourself wanting to qualify your thanks about certain family members. Instead, think of something good the person has done or said, and thank God.) After acknowledging your extended family, think about the people who have influenced you – such as teachers, mentors, or pastors. Think about the people in your neighborhood who have done kind deeds, old classmates, friends in your Bible study group, and people who serve you.

When we, like Joshua, pause to appreciate the people who enrich our lives, we affirm the value who enrich our lives, affirm the value of each individual, and bless God and them.

Thank God for the people in your life.

Make a list of people for who you feel grateful.

Cite one specific thing you appreciate about each person, and thank God for that individual.

Ask God to help you truly see and appreciate the people in your life.

Take time to reflect:

When we pause to thank God for His gifts, how does that deepen our relationship with Him?

How does gratitude affect how we see and treat others?

Consider these passages for further study on Thanksgiving:

Psalm 50:23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me, And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

Ephesians 1:16-18 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

I Timothy 2:1  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—

I am grateful for my family and Gary Chapman who gave me these ideas. There are many gratitude challenges, so find one that resonates with you and continue to do this as a routine and habit. It’s amazing how our lives change when we focus on what we are grateful for.