Some of the words that reflect this season include gratitude and thankfulness. According to The Mayo Clinic web site, gratitude improves sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude also reduces depression, anxiety, chronic pain and disease.

They also say that gratitude needs to be intentional. When we wake in the morning, for example, we should think of something for which we can be grateful. They suggest that we track our gratitude by keeping a journal that will remind us of our blessings. In addition, we are to include being mindful of others by thanking and complimenting them when they have done a good job. The result of making these conscious efforts of gratitude will make us healthier in body and mind and of course, it will also contribute to the wellbeing of others.

Naturally, God knew this before The Mayo Clinic, because the Bible is full of thoughts on gratitude and thankfulness. For example: “Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,” (Hebrews 12:28 ESV). “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving,” (Colossians 4:2 ESV). “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him,” (Colossians 3:17 ESV).

These verses list many things that God has done for us which gives us reasons to be thankful. However, another even more important reason to be thankful is that it is God’s will for us. “Give thanks in all circumstances: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” (I Thessalonians 5:18 ESV).

Thus, if thankfulness is a healthy way to live and is God’s will for us, we should be eager to follow through in obedience. After all, gratitude is named 157 times in the Bible and thankfulness is mentioned 72 times. If God chose to tell us to be grateful and thankful 229 times, it must be important!

By the way, fear, a closely related, yet opposite concept of thankfulness, is actually stated in the Bible 365 times; once for every day of the year! God knows that we are a fearful and anxious people who can dwell too much on our problems and thus forget to be thankful.

There is a story in Luke 17 of 10 men who had leprosy who begged Jesus to heal them. In Bible times, if you had leprosy, you were ostracized from society because of how incurable the disease was at that time. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest, which they did, and they were all healed. However, only one actually returned to Jesus to thank Him. Jesus indicated that being thankful was what was expected, “Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well,'” (Luke 17:17-19 ESV).

Recently I heard someone say; let’s remember to thank God with the same passion that we ask Him to answer our prayers. There is a verse which addresses the fear that triggers our prayers and petitions and the tone we should use in those prayers. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God,” (Phil 4:6 NIV).

Author of a second book, “Journeys in Faith, Pursing Obedience,” containing more than 50 additional devotionals written for The Minot Daily News.