A Great Recipe for a Thankful Heart
Who loves a great recipe? My hand’s raised.
Whether it’s our favorite foods or trying something new, recipes assist in the desired result. Even online dish-and-recipe photos pull us in with the promise of achieving success as the cook.
Every Thanksgiving, I follow a special recipe to make my Grandmother Clarkston’s lemon pie. Yum! It’s my favorite dessert of all time!
Then, as soon as I post pie photos on social media, family and friends, far and wide, ask for the recipe.
Recipe Measures
Recipes always call for measurements—a cup of this or a tablespoon of that. Likewise, we often make other measures in life.
Sadly, with Covid-19 numbers rising, some cities and states are limiting Thanksgiving gatherings to no more than ten.
Since it’s one of my favorite holidays, I intend to put several measures in place to ensure a wonderful holiday.
For instance, I still plan to make mouth-watering dishes for a smaller group of loved ones. And if the day proves beautiful and warm, we’re eating outdoors.
Stirring up a Thankful Heart
But where do we find the recipe for a thankful heart? What ingredients work together to make a heart full of thanksgiving?
A real thankful heart never comes easy, much less during the difficult year experienced around the world—including my world and perhaps yours.
Because we don’t have to look far to see devastation, need, loss, hurt, lack and hopelessness.
You see, these factors only affect our heart if we allow it. We decide whether our hearts turn hard toward God or thankful.
Our circumstances never dictate true thankfulness in our heart.
Our circumstances never dictate true thankfulness in our heart. #Thankful #recipe Click To TweetSo here are eight ingredients to stir up a T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L heart.
Thankful Heart Recipe
T – Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)
The first bite of lemon pie always reminds me of its goodness. Similarly, God reminds us over and over He’s a good, good Father. God alone is reason enough to give thanks.
H – Help others. (Philippians 2:4, Matthew 25:42-44)
Kingdom principles rarely make sense to our limited minds. When we look to the interests and needs of others; and when we help the least of these, it grows a thankful heart.
A – Accelerate praise and giving thanks to the Lord. (Psalm 7:17, Psalm 69:30)
As our voice sings praises and gives thanks, and raises Hallelujahs!, our heart naturally overflows with thankfulness. Praise + giving thanks = a thankful heart.
As our voice sings praises and gives thanks, and raises Hallelujahs!, our heart naturally overflows with thankfulness. Praise + giving thanks = a thankful heart. #Thankful Click To TweetN – Nourish our soul. (Isaiah 55:1-3, John 6:35)
Holidays and special occasions find most of us nourishing our body with nutrients and vitamins (and other stuff we won’t mention here). But replenishing our soul with spiritual nourishment brings spiritual vitality and life! We go to the bread of life, Jesus, to satisfy our hunger and thirst.
K – Keep the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
Like straying from a recipe botches the dish, straying from the foundations of our faith leaves us open to worldly perspectives and a less than whole heart devoted to God.
More Ingredients
F – Form an attitude of gratitude. (1 Timothy 4:4, Hebrews 12:28)
An attitude makes all the difference. Forming a specific one doesn’t happen overnight. Hebrews 12:28 encourages us to “be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” (ESV) And 1 Timothy 4:4 says, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” (ESV) Attitudes of gratitude connect thanksgiving to our heart.
U – Understand God’s blessings. (Ephesians 1:3)
We’ve heard it said to count our blessings. And we know we are blessed with every spiritual blessing. While it’s not an exhaustive list, these include: amazing grace, never-ending mercy, unconditional and undying love, unsurpassed peace, real hope, authentic faith, unwavering truth, overflowing joy and God’s fullness for our emptiness.
L – Lay up treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Many of us lost earthly treasures this year. Perhaps income, home, retirement, investments, insurance, or other. One sure-fire way to cook up a thankful heart? Lay up treasures in heaven. A place treasure is never destroyed or stolen.
One sure-fire way to cook up a thankful heart? Lay up treasures in heaven. A place treasure is never destroyed or stolen. #Thankful #recipe Click To TweetWhile Thanksgiving may look different this year, wherever you live or whatever your plans, I pray your Thanksgiving is blessed beyond measure.
An article from the past, Grateful Gobbling: Finding God in Thanksgiving.
Have you left out any ingredients for a thankful heart?
Congratulations to Melissa McLaughlin, winner of Kelly Balarie’s book, “Rest Now.”
*No blog article next week on Thanksgiving Day. See you, 12/3.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Recharge Wednesday/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Candidly Christian, Faith On Fire and Faith and Worship Christian Weekend.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Hi Karen!
Love this! Ready for some of that lemon pie! In spite of the many challenges this year, there’s so much I’m thankful for. Thank you for a great piece reminding us to give thanks to the Giver of all good things.❤️
So honored to receive your encouraging words, Liz. Like you, I’m also grateful to the Father of lights…because every good and perfect gift comes from Him. (James 1:17)
I’ll certainly be following your recipe for a thankful heart, Karen! Yes, this year is vastly different, but we can still count our blessings and be grateful to God for all He has done.
We can count our blessings and have attitudes of gratitude, sweet Martha! 1 Timothy 4:4 says, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” (ESV) Attitudes of gratitude connect thanksgiving to our heart. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Danny, your daughter/husband and the 3 girls!
I’m not usually good at following recipes, but this one will be different!
Good to know, Ava. 😉 There are a few dishes I don’t use recipes to make. But this lemon pie and a true thankful heart takes more accurate measurements. Happy Thanksgiving!
I absolutely love that: Praise + giving thanks = a thankful heart. Thank you so much this!
Thanks so much, Jessica! As our voice sings praises and gives thanks, and raises Hallelujahs!, our heart naturally overflows with thankfulness.
Our Thanksgiving will be different this year. Hubby and I are in quarantine so we can visit with new granddaughter, born Nov. 13th. The pediatrician has requested everyone who wants to be near the baby, to quarantine and then, take a COVID test. We will be able to see son, daughter-in-love and grandson Rowan and granddaughter Eden before Thanksgiving. We are thankful for all of God’s blessings.
Hi Melissa, I read about these details on a recent article you shared. That would be hard to stay away from a brand new baby! But sounds like wise words from the pediatrician for the sake and health of the baby girl. And who wouldn’t want what’s best for HER because you love her! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
These are good reminders to be thankful and to have hearts filled with gratitude to the Lord for all he has done for us spiritually, as well as physically. He has brought us through this year, in spite of all of the struggles and even has used them to bring growth and to strengthen our character. These are even more things to consider with an attitude of gratitude.
Yes, Melinda. Good points. We are not the same people we were last Thanksgiving. And we decide as believers if we let the Lord use the struggles of the past year to mold us more into His image. Or, if we let the circumstances dictate who we are and what shapes our heart. Blessed Thanksgiving to you and your family!
The lemon pie sounds so yummy. But, what I like most about your post is how you used the word “Thankful” to give us a recipe for a thankful heart. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Yvonne, it is yummy and one of a kind. There’s no other lemon pie like it. In the same way, there’s no other recipe like God’s Word for a thankful heart! Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
Great recipe! We have to be intentional about Thanksgiving–but once we start looking for things to be thankful for, it’s hard to stop.
So true, Barbara. Giving thanks is a choice we make and is intentional instead of looking at only what’s wrong in the world and our world. Happy Thanksgiving!
Another post that I’m gaga about Ms. Karen. Thankfulness is a result of what God does IN us, not what the world does TO us. Loved every letter in your wonderful acrostic ma’am. Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving.
Good insight here, J.D.: “Thankfulness is a result of what God does IN us, not what the world does TO us.” Yes! It’s about being changed from the inside out. It’s about an internal and eternal perspective! Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
I really love what you said about circumstances never dictating thankfulness. Will follow this recipe; thankful for your encouragement, my friend.
Glad this encouraged you, Candice. Even though it’s a hard truth to embrace at times, especially this year, when our circumstances fail to control our thoughts, emotions, and yes, thankfulness in our hearts, we are relying on God’s promises like never before.
Such a clever post, Karen!
Love this thankfulness recipe ❤️
Thank you, Beckie. I pray we daily go to the bread of life, Jesus, to satisfy our hunger and thirst. Happy Thanksgiving!
While our Thanksgiving will look quite different this year, we are most grateful God has kept us all healthy. So while it will be from our separate homes, we are each making a portion of the meal, deliver it to our three familial homes, and then partake “together”. May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Such a great idea for your family Thanksgiving plans this year, Joanne. Definitely different, yet helps you all feel a part. Giving God thanksgiving for health is at the top of the list for me too!
Karen, what a sweet memory! My mom loves lemon pie, too. I will be on the lookout for your recipe. 🙂 Thank you for pointing us back to Christ as our treasure. This life is passing away and though God has provided countless blessings for the here and now, forever and always, our greatest blessing is Jesus. Because of Him, we always have a reason to give thanks. God bless you and your lovely family!
Our greatest blessing IS Jesus! A thousand Hallelujahs! So grateful our circumstances never dictate true thankfulness in our heart.
This T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L acronym is great!
Appreciate your comment, Lisa. May we continue to Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)
I loved this post. “God alone is reason enough to give thanks.” What a great line! If we could just stay focused on that one line! Thanks for your perspective. Happy Thanksgiving. Also, I co-host FAITH AND WORSHIP CHRISTIAN WEEKEND link party. I would love for you to join us in Christian fellowship. You can find the party over at my blog, Grace for a Gypsy.
Thank you, Sylvia. And I agree, if we could love God for “Him” and not for His stuff or what He does and the same for thanksgiving! Because all we have and all we owe is to the Almighty! Appreciate you letting me know about your blog and linkup! Just checked it out and added the link to my list of links on this post and every post. God bless!
Stopping by again to say thanks, and welcome to our #FaithAndWorshipChristianWeekend 10
Thank you, Sylvia! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks for this “recipe”, Karen. I need to keep working on my thankful spirit this year, so this is helpful. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Hey Lisa, working on giving thanks is vital for all of us and all the time. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
love this recipe, karen!! i am a sucker for acronyms, as they help us remember something more easily!! love this!
Mariel, I love using acronyms to convey points! Happy Thanksgiving!
Great suggestions for the T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L recipe! I like it!! Thanks so much for linking up with me at my party #FaithAndWorshipChristianWeekend 10. Shared on social media. I invite you to check out my other current link parties and any link you add to my parties can also be added to my Unlimited Monthly for more views and shares!!
Thanks so much, Dee. I appreciate you reading, commenting, and reaching out about linkup opportunities.
We can’t choose every thing about this Thanksgiving day, but we can choose our attitude and what we focus on. Whether we choose to be grateful and count our blessings, or choose to miss all the stuff we don’t have this year.
Yes, Theresa! Our choices and attitudes only belong to us. I pray to take ownership and choose gratitude! Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen, I absolutely love this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing your encouraging and blessed words. Blessings.
Thank you, Paula. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
I love Thanksgiving food and love how you took the idea of measurements for recipes to provide a lesson in relying on God in all circumstances. Your acrostic is fun, too. Happy Thanksgiving!
Me too, Mary. If fact, every time our life group at church used to do the icebreaker to share what our last meal would be if we had a chance to request it. I always said my favorite Thanksgiving menu. Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
The perfect acronym to help us remember the purpose of Thanksgiving. I especially resonate with the H–helping others. It’s so easy to get caught up in our plans that we forget to reach out to those in need.
I like “helping others” also, Anita. How can we not be generous when we serve a generous God. And generous with our time, talents, and resources!
Karen, as always, this was a great post. You mentioned lemon pie and it reminded me of my grandmother’s lemon meringue pie that was tart and sweet and oh, so delicious! When you talked about “Help Others” it resonated. When we focus our eyes on others and how we can help/bless/encourage them, it opens up our own hearts to gratitude. Thanks for the reminder!
Thank you, Jeanne. I love lemon meringue pies too. My grandmother’s recipe is a lemon cream pie, a recipe she made up one day when she didn’t have the ingredients for another kind of pie. It’s lemon-y sweetness. I agree about helping others, “it opens up our own hearts to gratitude.”
CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at my party #FaithAndWorshipChristianWeekend 11, open until November 30 at 12:05 am.
Thank you! 🙂
Karen, I absolutely love your recipe for thankfulness. I have been practicing gratitude so much this past year because it is so easy to fall into victim status when it feels like the whole world is crashing down upon us. But like you said, “Our circumstances never dictate true thankfulness in our heart.” Shifting our perspective to one of gratitude is truly the best way to find peace and happiness in this crazy world. I hope that your holiday season is filled is joy and love and happiness!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
I agree, Shelby, it’s so easy to feel like a victum in this world of hardships and heartache. So grateful our true citzenship lies in heaven and that very truth helps us remember circumstances can never take away our thanksgiving and praise to God the Father. For we can live thankfully during the holidays and all year long because He never changes.