Growing in Goodness & Gratitude with Your Word of the Year
I'm feeling the need to release grumbling and embrace gratitude as my "G" word. Grumble feels like a heavy word to me, like carrying around a dirty burlap bag of rocks. Gratitude feels light and hopeful. What better way to become grateful than to list what I have to be thankful for and to focus on the goodness of God, and good things!
Building on the "F" Flow with the Fun post of last time, I've decided to do some "Grateful Groove" in my movement, during my worship dancing time. The combination of moving, being grateful to music, reflecting on Scripture, and writing down what I am thankful for is a renewing experience.
NOTE: The materials used for these pages are Mid-Century Modern Stencil for the visual elements, along with Gelatos, Micron pen, colored pencils, and Washi tape. You can find links at the end of the post.For how to do the visual part of these pages: check out the second how-to video on my NEW Stencil page: https://valeriesjodin.com/how-to-stencil/ I use the same technique and stencil as in the videos there.
It was helpful to look up goodness on Bible Gateway and read through the verses. I found myself thanking God for His goodness. In light of my word of the year (pun intended) I found a verse that encompasses my goal of light, goodness, and learning what is beautiful to God:
Ephesians 5:8-10 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Once your life was full of sin’s darkness,
but now you have the very light of our Lord shining through you
because of your union with him.
Your mission is to live as children flooded with his revelation-light!
And the supernatural fruits of his light
will be seen in you—goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Then you will learn to choose what is beautiful to our Lord.
These verses were not even in my verse pages I did earlier. I am adding them in my journal here and flagging the page with Washi tape edges.
Goodness Scriptures
Taking these verses to heart is helping me focus on God and His Goodness and Grace, and brings Gratitude. I hope they encourage you too!
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness,
but according to his own mercy, by the washing of
regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that being justified by his grace we might become
heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
~ Titus 3:4-5 ESV
God’s Generous Grace
May grace and perfect peace cascade over you
as you live in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God
has already been deposited in us by his divine power.
For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience
of knowing him who has called us by name and
invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.
As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises
that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises
you can experience partnership with the divine nature,
by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.
2 Peter 1:2-4 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Take the carefree birds as your example. Do you ever see them worry?
They don’t grow their own food or put it in a storehouse for later.
Yet God takes care of every one of them, feeding each of them from his love and goodness.
Isn’t your life more precious to God than a bird? Be carefree in the care of God!
Luke 12:24 TPT
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:6 NLT
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:13-14 NIV
Lord, how wonderful you are!You have stored up so many good things for us,
like a treasure chest heaped up and spilling over with blessings—
all for those who honor and worship you!Everybody knows what you can do
for those who turn and hide themselves in you.
Psalm 31:19 TPT
So celebrate the goodness of God!He shows this kindness
to everyone who is his.Go ahead—shout for joy,
all you upright ones who want to please him!
Psalm 32:11 TPT
From your kindness you send the rain
to water the mountains from the upper rooms of your palace.
Your goodness brings forth fruit for all to enjoy.
Psalm 104:13 TPT
Everything you do is beautiful,
flowing from your goodness;
teach me the power of your wonderful words!
Psalm 119:68 TPT
Questions to Consider
What "G" word is coming up as a focus word as it relates to your life and/or your word of the year?
How is God revealing His goodness to you?
How will you give thanks, gratitude to God? to others?
Will you share something you are grateful for in the comments or in the Facebook group?
Gratitude
Know and fully recognize with gratitude
that the Lord Himself is God;It is He who has made us,
not we ourselves [and we are His].
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:3 AMP
Lord, receive my grateful thanks and teach me more of how to please you.
Psalm 119:108