Slowing down makes it easier to pay attention. Attentiveness is the gateway to gratitude, and gratitude is the gateway to transformation. This is true spiritually, physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally. Gratitude is a central theme throughout Scripture. Gratitude also has the power to change the atmosphere of any relationship, any home, or any context where it becomes a regular part of the culture. I’ve seen this firsthand many times in many ways in a variety of situations and contexts. Alan Jones writes this about the practice of Gratitude, “It’s important we recognize that gratitude isn’t just an exercise of etiquette: one more virtue we should cultivate … Rather, it is our spontaneous response when we wake up to that fact that life is a gift.” As we pay attention to the life we actually live in our bodies (through our senses and emotions), we find that it is a life of participation in God and in community with God’s people. Life is truly a gift, and as such, we experience so much of the goodness and grace of God in our day-to-day interactions and experiences. Gratitude journaling is a tool for expressing the truth of your feelings about the gifts we receive each day.
In the same way as humans, each of us shares a common core need for affirmation. This is inherent to our being made in the image of God and to our humanity. We were created by love and for love and one way this love is expressed is through affirmation. When God finished his creative work in Genesis 1, he looked at His creation and said that it was “very good”. As Jesus was beginning His earthly ministry the heavens opened up during His baptism and God the Father declared in Matthew 3:17 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Let that sink in, before Jesus performed a single miracle, preached the famous Sermon on the Mount, or gathered a single follower His Father was already pleased with Him and Jesus was a beloved Son.
The beauty for us apprentices of Jesus is that in our union with Christ God the Father looks down on us and offers these same words, “This is my beloved son/daughter, in whom I am well pleased.” I’ve yet to meet the person who walks fully in this identity as a beloved son and daughter of Christ securely living out of the Father’s acceptance in fullness. We all could use some affirmation about what is true of us, what is good in us, and what is beautiful about us. My prayer during this month is we learn to practice gratitude and affirmation as disciplines and practices in such a way that it sustains a life of receiving the love of God for us in Christ Jesus, and reflecting that very love to the community of saints around us for our joy and the glory of God the Father.
During this month we’ll practice expressing praise through individual gratitude journaling and communal words of affirmation sharing. You’ll find a little more information about each aspect of this month’s practice below.
Gratitude Journaling
Each day set aside a few minutes to consider and reflect upon your day, or the prior day depending on how you practice this discipline. As you reflect, journal your gratitude for something good, something true, and something beautiful you experienced that day. I’d encourage you to be very specific and journal with some detail as a way to not get stuck in a rut of broad generalities. This gratitude journal could be used as a general way to reflect on your day or could be directed at specific challenges you may be experiencing. For example, if you have a specific relationship you are struggling to enjoy, maybe direct your time gratitude journaling towards that relationship. Maybe you are in a season where you are finding it difficult to enjoy being in relationship with God. What is something good, true, and beautiful that you have experienced in this relationship during this day?
This practice is going to require us to sometimes look really hard to find the good, true and beautiful and that is okay. It’s there, my friends and I have often found that it’s a lot easier to recognize when I’m slowing down, paying attention to what is actual, and looking for it!
Something Good ·
Something True ·
Something Beautiful ·
Words of Affirmation Sharing
During your group gatherings spend some time honoring one another with words of affirmation. Offer up things using the same prompts as we’re using for gratitude journaling.
• Something Good ·
• Something True ·
• Something Beautiful ·
Take turns sharing these words of affirmation and things we appreciate about one another. The potential does exist for this to be awkward. Shame is the cultural air we all breathe and for some within your community group, it will be very difficult for them to hear these words as they can’t imagine these things being true of them. For others, they are so accustomed to projecting their own shameful feelings about themselves unto others it will be deeply challenging to offer up any words of praise and affirmation for another.
Hold the tension, embrace the awkward and lean into the pain of this. As a reminder attentiveness is the pathway to gratitude, and gratitude is the pathway to transformation. As you slow down, pay attention, and express praise through gratitude and affirmation the atmosphere around you will be transformed by the beautiful and powerful presence of Jesus that is alive in each of your participants through the Holy Spirit that lives within each of you.
MONTHLY SCRIPTURE READING PLAN
This Scripture reading Plan works alongside the Embodied Presence Practice. It includes passages selected to coincide with the Practices of each month and the discussions you’ll be having within your Community Group.
Each week we’ll look at scriptures that invite us to consider gratitude or affirmation and their rightful places as practices in our lives and our relationships.
November 28th - December 4th
December 5th - December 11th
December 12th - December 18th
December 19th - December 26th (Week of Christmas)
WEEKLY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
The hope is not that you answer every single question every single week. Some weeks you discuss some of the Scripture references from the week of the practice together and other weeks you may simply discuss the journey as a whole and the ways God is working within the participants of your Community Group through this Embodied Presence Practice. Some weeks you may use the discussion questions to help guide your conversations as you gather with your Community Group each week. You do not have to use the questions exactly how they are given or in the order, they are given. Select some for your discussions as you see fit and need. GROUPS LITURGY EXAMPLE
These questions could be used any week or every week. There are also some more targeted weekly discussion questions you are welcome and encouraged to use below as you see fit and need.
Through your reading of the selected scriptures this past week, how have you been encouraged by your practice of gratitude? How have you been challenged regarding your practice of gratitude?
What are some things you remember expressing gratitude for this week? Consider things that are good, beautiful, and true.
December Weekly Discussion Questions:
November 28th - December 4th
Is gratitude something you find comfortable or uncomfortable in your life? Why do you think that is?
Do you consider gratitude a spiritual practice? Why or why not?
What role does gratitude play in your life currently? What opportunities are you aware exist for growth in gratitude?
December 5th - December 11th
Have you found it more challenging to express gratitude for something true, something beautiful, or something good during this practice? Why do you think that is?
As you’ve spent time putting words to your gratitude how are you experiencing gratitude’s fruitfulness in your life? How are you noticing its effect on your relationships?
How does shame affect your ability to express and/or receive gratitude and affirmation?
December 12th - December 18th
Do you have a need for affirmation? Why or why not?
Is it more difficult for you to express affirmation or receive affirmation? Why do you think that is?
What role has affirmation played in your relationship with God? What role has affirmation played in your relationship with yourself? What role has affirmation played in your relationship with others?
December 19th - December 26th (Week of Christmas)
In what ways are you experiencing a deeper sense of joy as you’ve practiced expressing gratitude and expressing affirmation during this group’s practice?
In what ways have you seen the nature of your relationships transforming? Consider your relationship with God, yourself, and others.
Will you continue intentionally practicing gratitude and affirmation as spiritual disciplines? Why or why not? If so, how will you?