November is the month of gratitude, and that's why, at this time last year, I shared on the blog the “Counting Blessings” a small project to encourage people to develop the habit of counting their blessings daily. And now that we're in November, and at least here (USA), people talk a lot about gratitude because of Thanksgiving, I was once again prompted to write about this topic.

This week, I read something very interesting. Do you know which month sees the most people falling into depression? Many studies indicated January or February (after the year-end holidays), but other studies indicate that November is the month when most people access depression help websites and depression medication websites. How ironic! The month when Thanksgiving is celebrated is the month when most people fall into depression!

In Brazil, although it's not as widely publicized as it perhaps should be, officially Thanksgiving is on the 4th Thursday of November. And for us Christians, more than all other special dates, this one should be celebrated wholeheartedly.

I'd like to share a text I read this week about prayer and gratitude and how intimately connected they are:

“Daniel was a man of powerful prayer, not because he knelt three times a day and made petitions to the throne of the Most High. On the contrary, his prayers moved kings and lion's mouths simply because 'Three times a day he knelt down and prayed, giving thanks to his God, as he had done before' (Daniel 6:10). Three times a day Daniel offered a prayer of gratitude for the ordinary things of daily life, for the love poured out from God's heart."

The only true prayers are those uttered by grateful lips. Because gratitude leads to the other side of prayer, to the heart of the God of love, and all the power to change the world and me. Therein lies His love. For prayer to be truly prayer and to have the power to change anything, it must first speak of gratitude: "but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil 4:6). "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people" (1 Tim 2:1).

Unceasing prayer is only possible in a life of continuous gratitude. How can anyone think it's possible to enter His gates if not with gratitude? (Psalm 100:4)" (Taken from the book "A Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp).

See how interesting this is: in Greek, the word Eucharisteo means "thanksgiving," the word Charis means "grace," and the word Chara means "joy." Both Charis "grace" and Chara "joy" are part of the word Eucharisteo. When I read this, I started thinking, have I daily recognized God's grace (expressed in salvation through Christ and in all the other blessings I receive) to the point of becoming joyful and wanting to give back to Him in the form of gratitude?

The act of thanking God is a prayer that comes from a heart full of joy for the blessings abundantly poured out by God.

So, here's a challenge for you and me this November: Will we allow ourselves to become depressed by life's problems, or will we choose to express our joy through a life of gratitude to God?

May God help us to always have a grateful heart.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people;1 Timothy 2:1

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people;1 Timothy 2:1

but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6

in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6

in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6

in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6

in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6

in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6

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