Every Wednesday
A Prayer for Gratitude in the Small Things
By: Alisha Headley in Crosswalk
Bible Reading:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Some days, gratitude feels easy — when the doors open, when the test comes back clear, when the blessing is big and obvious. But most days, the everyday ordinary mundane days, it can be hard to find gratitude.
The truth is that gratitude isn’t only found in mountaintop miracles. It’s cultivated in the mundane — in the morning light peeking through the blinds, the laughter around the dinner table, the warmth of a coffee mug in your hands, the roof over your head. It’s in the text from a friend checking in. The giggle of a baby. The long walk that clears your mind. The peace that sneaks in at night when you realize, “I made it through another day.”
Today’s Scripture reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This verse isn’t just a gentle suggestion — it’s a reminder that gratitude isn’t about what’s happening to us, but what’s happening within us. God’s will for us is to live with thankful hearts, no matter what the day brings, because thanksgiving keeps us aligned with His presence. Thanksgiving keeps us focused on Him. Thanksgiving keeps worry at bay.
When we only thank God for the big breakthroughs, we miss the daily miracles and the joy that is available to us every day.
I’ve noticed that when I slow down long enough to notice the small, sacred details — the sound of birds outside my window, the way my husband’s hand finds mine, the way God whispers truth through a verse I’ve read a hundred times — my heart softens. I start to see that God’s goodness isn’t an occasional event; it’s an ongoing presence. It teaches me to be content with each day and not look to the future.
We live in a world that glorifies “more.” More followers. More money. More progress. More everything. But the Kingdom of God often moves in the opposite direction — toward simplicity, contentment, and quiet joy. Jesus Himself thanked the Father for five loaves and two fish before the miracle of multiplication ever happened.
When we learn to see the fingerprints of God in the ordinary, life begins to look extraordinary. The day-to-day becomes holy ground. Gratitude shifts the atmosphere — not because our circumstances change, but because our perspective does.
If you’re in a season that feels simple, repetitive, or even small, maybe that’s exactly where God wants to meet you. Don’t overlook what’s right in front of you. There’s beauty in everyday. There’s purpose in the pause. And there’s joy to be found in simply being alive today.
Let’s Pray:
Father, thank You for the small things — the quiet gifts I often overlook. Forgive me for the times I’ve rushed past Your goodness, waiting for something “bigger” to thank You for. Open my eyes to see You in the details — in the laughter, in the stillness, in the simple routines of my life.
Thank You for breath in my lungs, for sunlight through the window, for food on my table, and for the people who love me. Thank you for the traffic I sit in with the car I get to drive.
Help me to live with a heart of continual gratitude, not because everything is perfect, but because You are perfect and Your plans for me are good. Teach me to pause, to notice, and to whisper thank You in the middle of the ordinary. May my life be one long thank-you note to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.