“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:16–18 NLT

In this season of Thanksgiving, we reflect on all that we’re grateful for. It’s a time of celebration as we take time to pause, enjoy a holiday meal, and give thanks to God. And we have so much to be thankful for — look around you at this very moment and count three things you’re thankful for. Maybe it’s the house you’re in, the people you are around, the free magnetic calendar you got in the mail today. Too often we wait to show our gratitude to God only when big life changes happen, but there is so much to be thankful for in this very moment.

And what about the challenging times? Do we have a heart full of gratitude in the hard times? First Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) tells us, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” This Scripture is saying we can be thankful not just in times of blessing, but also in times of difficulty. That sounds hard to do, but when you think about it, we can be grateful in our ever-changing circumstances because God is the Source of our provision and blessings, and He never changes. Whether we find ourselves in good times, busy times, or hard times, we know our unchanging God is still taking care of us: “I, God, will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15 The Voice).

We may not understand how He is working on our behalf during the tough times, but we can always be thankful, because He is always faithful.

Having a grateful heart in all circumstances doesn’t come to us naturally; it takes some changes in our mindset to grow in gratitude and think grateful thoughts.

We can start in our prayer time, giving thanks to God for the blessings He gives us each day: the house we live in . . . the car we drive . . . the job that provides for our family . . . the food He blesses us with at our meals . . . the beautiful sunsets we see every evening . . . nothing is too big or too small to give Him thanks for. Growing in gratitude is also a matter of shifting our focus — from the difficulties we’re facing, or from what we don’t have, to knowing God is with us in our difficulties, recognizing all that we do have through Him.

Gratitude will grow more and more within us as we “come before Him with thanksgiving” every day (Psalm 95:2 NIV). Think of each morning as a new opportunity to thank God for all He does. It’s a sweet way to start your day.

Lord, we come to You with grateful hearts for all the ways You bless us and fill our lives with so many good things. Because of Your abundant and unconditional love, we can live joyfully and thankfully every day of our lives, no matter what our circumstances are. We can be grateful in every season, whether we’re experiencing good days or difficult ones, because we know we are in Your care and You give us so much to be thankful for. Help us to remember to focus on You instead of any challenging circumstances we may face, knowing You will work through those for our good. We thank You that You always hold us close to Your heart and that You promise never to forget us. You are always so faithful. Help us to see Your blessings all around us as we go through each day and never take any of them for granted. Our hearts are filled with love for You and gratefulness to You for Your goodness to us. Amen.

Speaking of sweet . . . here’s a sweet and easy snack recipe you can try for a fall get together: Caramel-Apple Dip. It makes a great snack for your family, a group gathering, or even game day. As you melt the caramel with the other creamy ingredients in a saucepan, take some time to think grateful thoughts about your day and consider what you can thank God for!

Caramel-Apple Dip

PREP: 25 MIN. | COOK: 5-7 MIN. | TOTAL TIME: 25 MIN. | SERVINGS: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 (11-ounce) bag caramels, unwrapped, or Kraft Caramel Bits
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• Optional garnish: 2 teaspoons chopped peanuts (or pecans) or toffee bits, or 1 teaspoon each of nuts and toffee bits
• Sliced apples to serve with the dip

Instructions:

1. Add the caramels, sweetened condensed milk, and butter to a small- to medium-size saucepan saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until mixture is smooth, creamy, and well-blended.
2. Pour the caramel dip into a small bowl. If desired, garnish the top of the dip with a sprinkle of chopped nuts and/or toffee bits.
3. Serve the dip while still warm with sliced apples. You could also serve with other fruit such as sliced pears, sliced bananas, or pineapple chunks, or with pretzels.
4. Refrigerate any leftover dip for up to 2 weeks.

Note: This recipe makes about two and a half cups of dip. You can heat up any leftover dip and use it as an ice cream topping.

The Simple Recipes for Busy Seasons Devotional Cookbook is designed for hectic moments, offering heartfelt devotions that encourage you to breathe, pause, and find peace in God’s presence. Each devotion comes alongside quick, wholesome recipes that bring your family together without adding to your stress. Find many more recipes and devotions like the one above in Simple Recipes for Busy Seasons!

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