“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” — Philippians 4:8, NIV
An old hymn by Johnson Oatman Jr. repeats the phrase, “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.” Thankfulness requires reflection on our lives as we consider or count what God has given us.
When we reflect on our lives and blessings, we are often able to notice things that we otherwise take for granted — whether it be family and friends, clouds in the colorful sky or the taste of a cool drink on a hot day. Reflecting on these things and counting our blessings allows us to develop a grateful attitude and positive outlook.
Philippians 4:8 says we are to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. When we think about these good things in the world, it becomes easier to see how blessed we are, no matter the situation.