Thankful Journaling

Nov 21, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Nov 30, 2020

A few years back, Lori Lange asked me to log my daily thoughts of gratitude. Among her many titles, she is a Lean Matter LLC Health coach in Tulsa, OK. She suggested I log thoughts of thanks before each meal or 3-5 times a day. Each day must be something new and fresh. She requested that I log on a piece of paper, carry it with me, and update it throughout the day and later I could transfer the notes into a journal. Lori was a tremendous blessing to my life and helped me with living life fully engaged. She wanted me to have a record of growth in all areas of life, struggles, hindrances to progression, and daily choices.

The journal notes began when I awoke and before each meal, and ended with retiring each night. Journaling started out fairly simple, Gratitude for awaking to see another day, healthy food choices, a will to exercise, exercise clothing that fit comfortably, and family support and then it progressed to gratitude for strength to endure a workout session, courage to bring about change, good health resources, healthy relationships, and Salvation. Later, I began to pray a prayer with each thought of thanksgiving. Examples are: I thank you Father for daily provisions, and for having compassion on those who are unable to get their basic needs met; Thank you Holy Spirit for leading and guiding me and for drawing those near to God who have never heard the gospel, Thank you Jesus for the sacrifice you made so I can enjoy this life of abundance, and I beseech your Father to open the ears, hearts, and minds of the lost to hear the gospel, believe Jesus Christ is the son of God, he rose from the dead, confess their lifestyle of unrighteousness, receive forgiveness for their sins and desire to become a member of the Universal Church; I thank Yahweh for strength to overcome the obstacles placed in my path and for grace for beseeched God on behalf of those who feel weak, Lord God, may your strength be sufficient. I thank God for faith to enter His throne room boldly and ask for help in times of need and for others to grow in knowledge and their relationship with Him. I was grateful for the honor to communicate with the Trinity and for others to have someone to come alongside of them and teach them about how to pray and communicate daily with Jehovah God. I was tremendously grateful to El Shaddai for His Love and Mercy, and interceded for others to begin to see He was working for them and not against them. I thanked God for forgiving me of my many sins and casting them into the sea of forgetfulness and for helping those who are struggling with unforgiveness of self and others to see the damage it was causing to their future success. I thanked God Almighty for helping me find the door of escape when I was tempted, and asked for others to choose virtue and say no to things that conflict with His purpose for their lives. In Jesus Name AMEN.

A link to apps, templates and idea for your gratitude diary: Positive Psychology

https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-journal/#:~:text=A%20gratitude%20journal%20is%2C%20quite,something%20to%20feel%20grateful%20for.&text=Once%20you%20have%20your%20journal,things%20you%20are%20grateful%20for

Greater Good Magazine; https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal