A Prayer to Be Thankful for the Little Things in Life - Your Daily Prayer - November 23
A Prayer to Be Thankful for the Little Things in Life
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Listen or Read Below:
At the beginning of this year, I made a goal to start noticing the little things in life. This was for the purpose of bringing back joy, hope, and creativity in my life. I was severely depressed at the beginning of the year and it was hard for me to even leave the house. I didn't want to get out of bed, and I certainly did not have the bandwidth to even notice the little beauties that were all around me. Sadly, the darkness of winter has a way of making my depression worse. Maybe you have also noticed the same thing in your own life. Know that while this is common, we don't have to allow depression to continue to ruin our winters. By stopping and thinking about the small beauties of the world and the blessings of God, we can feel a little bit of this darkness lift from our hearts.
Throughout this year, I have paid more attention to the beauty of the blue sky, the crisp air, and the changing colors of the sunset. All these things have brought me back to the feet of Jesus. None of these things would exist without Him. They are a constant reminder of the grace of our Lord and the love He has for us. When I get down, I think about these things. Yes, life can be draining and awful at times, but Jesus is still with us. As believers, we are just passing through; we will not stay in this fallen world forever. There will come a day when all sin will be eradicated and along with it, illness, pain, and death. Within the New Heaven and New Earth, none of these things will ever cross our minds ever again (Revelation 21:4). As we are awaiting this day, we need to have hope.
To build upon hope, we can start being thankful for the little things in life because they ultimately point us back to God. God restores our hearts and minds with his love. Our Bible passage today comes from the Apostle Paul, and he says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). By putting Paul’s teachings into action, we will begin to be thankful for the little things. Maybe life isn’t going exactly as we would like it to go, but God’s beautiful plans are still unraveling in our lives. Things will get better because God is in control. Even if you are having a hard time finding anything to be thankful for, you can be thankful for God. He is our Almighty, Wonderful God, and He is also our dearly loved friend.
Think of some ways you can start noticing the little things in life this week—and be thankful for them. With time, thankfulness will become second nature for you. You will praise and give thanks to our beloved God above. Even when days are hard, you will know that God loves you.
Let’s pray:
Dear God, I have struggled with thankfulness for a long time. Sometimes it can feel as though there is nothing to be thankful for. Please help me to start being thankful for the little things in life and to give You thanks because of these things. Every beautiful thing on this earth was created by You. You are amazing and I give You thanks today. Amen.
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Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026
This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.
Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
