Yesterday in the United States, we celebrated Thanksgiving—a day set aside for gathering with family and friends to enjoy each other and reflect on all we have with gratitude. While it is wonderful that our culture sets aside a day to communally give thanks, as Christians, we are called to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 RSVCE)—not just for one day, not just when things are easy or going well, not just when we feel like being thankful. Scripture commands us to be grateful in all circumstances; as I doubt this comes naturally or easily to most of us, we must ask for grace to cultivate gratitude within us and actively practice being grateful.

A daily Examen is one tool that can help us cultivate a spirit of gratitude in all circumstances, as it helps us to see how the Lord is at work in the ordinary moments of our lives. This short prayer at the end of the day is an opportunity to reflect and notice where we saw or experienced the Lord during the day, to give thanks for those small moments, to repent of any ways we failed, and to ask for help to see and follow Him the next day. Through a daily Examen, giving thanks becomes a regular and consistent spiritual habit, which cultivates the virtue of gratitude more deeply within us and helps to become disciples who “give thanks in all circumstances.”

As we continue to enjoy the traditions of Thanksgiving weekend, let us be intentional about continuing to give thanks amidst delicious leftovers, gathering with friends and family, and football. If you are interested in cultivating a greater spirit of gratitude, one that allows you to “give thanks in all circumstances,” I invite you to give a daily Examen a try. If you are just starting the practice, here is a written resource with the five steps simply explained and here is a YouTube video with another method of a daily Examen.