by Julie Zine Coleman @JulieZColeman

For many years, my friend Beth mentored middle-school girls at her church, with the intent of drawing them into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. One of their weekly activities, “I Spy God,” was a time for sharing reported glimpses of Him they had in the previous week. The girls would cite things like being enabled to recall an answer while taking a test, finding a lost item, or encouragement received out of the blue. Through the exercise the girls developed an awareness of God’s involvement and care in their daily lives.

Whether we are aware or not, God is at work in the ordinary. How can we open our eyes to see Him? One sure-fire way is by expressing gratitude.

The command to praise God with thanksgiving is repeated over and over in the Bible. Psalm 34 urges, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth… O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” The Hebrew word translated magnify means “to grow, make greater.”  We make God greater, easier to perceive, by praising Him.

Simple gratitude opens a window into a deeper awareness of His presence and involvement in our lives. It draws us into a closer relationship with Him.

[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none” inject=”#Writing #Writinglife #BRMCWC”]The Enlightenment of Writing Gratitude by @JulieZColeman on @BRMCWC[/tweet_box]

Being thankful keeps us grounded in the truth of God’s power and provision. When we stop being thankful, we lose that perspective. The shadow of hard circumstances begins to threaten our sense of well-being, and we look elsewhere for comfort and satisfaction. Failing to be thankful ultimately hardens our hearts.

Being a writer involves a lot more struggle than gratification. We can get so zeroed in on what we are creating, we can lose sight of our dependence on God for what flows from our fingertips to the keyboard. And that is a guaranteed road to misery.

One morning, while walking the dog, I was struggling with writer’s funk. So I began to recite Scripture. Philippians 4:6 came to mind. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God.” In response to that urging, I began to unload on Him, voicing the concerns weighing me down. I felt a little better when I finished, but not much.

Then I suddenly realized I had omitted two words as I recited that verse: with thanksgiving let your requests be made known.

Ooops. Gratitude wasn’t even on my radar screen! Back to square one. I needed to turn my complaints around into an acknowledgment of His many kindnesses. So rather than whine about the coming mortgage payment, I thanked Him for giving us a wonderful home to live in. Remembering my recently expressed concerns for my children, I thanked God for blessing us with such a wonderful, loving family. And, with my griping over my writing difficulties still ringing in my ears, I thanked God for making me an author and giving me the unbelievable privilege of a publishing contract.

As I prayed, something began to resonate inside me. Once I started praising and thanking Him, it was impossible to stop! There was so much for which to be thankful; far more than could be expressed during the length of a morning walk. I returned home overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness and involvement. My heart was at peace. God is on His throne. And He loves me beyond measure.

Expressing thanksgiving is the cure for whatever ails us in our writing journey. It furnishes perspective to correctly frame our reality. While allowing our circumstances to loom bigger than the God of the Universe, gratitude magnifies the Lord. It restores a right relationship with Him and opens our spiritual eyes once more.

“…with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Julie Zine Coleman is an award-winning author, speaker, and member of the Pastoral Team at New Hope Chapel. She is the managing editor for the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association’s devotional website, Arise Daily. Julie holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies and has authored four books including Unexpected Love: God’s Heart Revealed through Jesus’ Conversations with Women and On Purpose: Understanding God’s Freedom for Women through Scripture, which was named The Golden Scrolls Book of the Year as well as The Selah Awards’ Director’s Choice. Julie and her husband have four grown children, six grandchildren, and one crazy Golden Retriever puppy.