In my lesson last week for Children’s Church, the main character was Daniel of the Old Testament. The conniving satraps had convinced the king to make a decree, trying to get rid of Daniel. If he continued to pray to his God, he would face the lions’ den.

As I read the passage in Daniel 6, my eye was drawn to verse 10.

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Did you hear that? “GIVING THANKS TO HIS GOD just as he had done before.”

Seeking God was Daniel’s habit. Prayer was Daniel’s habit. GRATITUDE was Daniel’s habit.

Gratitude was as automatic, habitual, and necessary to him as breathing.

And it helped him quiet his heart before God in the midst of his crazy life’s circumstances.

That little verse struck a nerve with me. I think lately I have been so focused on the hurts, injustices, and stresses of my life that I have neglected to remember all that is mine in Christ Jesus. Daniel’s example showed me that gratitude can steady me, and change my perspective.

That got me thinking…

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 103. It is packed with reasons to be thankful, and it even commands us in verse 2 to “forget not all his benefits,” and then, in the rest of the Psalm, it goes on to list some amazing reasons for all of us to be grateful.

I listed some in my journal:

He forgives all your sins (v 3)

He heals all your diseases (v 3)

He redeems your life from the pit (v 4)

He crowns you with love and compassion (v 4)

He satisfies your desires with good things (v 5)

He renews your youth like an eagle (v 5)

He works righteousness and justice for the oppressed (v 6)

He makes known his ways and deeds (v 7)

He is compassionate (v 8)

He is gracious (v 8)

He is slow to anger (v 8)

He is abounding in love (v 8)

He will not always accuse (v 9)

He will not harbor his anger forever (v 9)

He does not treat us as our sins deserve (v 10)

He does not repay us according to our iniquities (v 10)

His love is as high as the heavens are above the earth (v 11)

He has removed our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west (v 12)

That’s quite a list!

Anyone feeling grateful after reading it? I know I am!

I think I’m going to tape my list to the mirror in the bathroom, or keep it handy in my purse. Or maybe even both. I believe Scripture will help steady my mind in the midst whatever I face. It will help me to flip my perspective and walk in victory!

A habit of gratitude seems like a pretty good one to develop.

I want to be like Daniel. I want a habit of thankfulness!