Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving
Choosing gratitude over negativity this Thanksgiving week
Instead of allowing the “blah” feeling to control my mood this morning, I made a different decision.
It felt good to sit in silence early Sunday morning. During that solitude, I wrote the verse of the day, which instantly changed my energy. I felt lighter and ok with what was. That’s important because it’s easy to allow negativity for too long.
Negative thoughts drain our energy and can impact our day.
The decision I made is to enter through the gate of thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4-5 says: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
I don’t like that negative feeling that makes me want to stay in bed. So, this morning, I chose not to allow those emotions.
I’m celebrating what God is inviting us into: a week where we intentionally enter every day with thanksgiving.
This Week At A Glance: Thanksgiving Edition
Monday, preparing for Thanksgiving gatherings, family time, and the week ahead
Tuesday, last-minute shopping and prep work (you know how it goes)
Wednesday, travel day for many, final preparations for others
Thursday, Thanksgiving Day! Fun, food, fellowship, rest, and relaxation
Friday, Black Friday (LaQuanda and Taneka are running specials for Crown Me Wig Collection and Winners Win)
Saturday, I’m from Alabama…it’s time for the big Iron Bowl Game.
Sunday, Worship, rest, and reflection as November closes
This is the week to slow down, give thanks, and be intentional about entering every day through the gate of gratitude instead of the gate of stress, obligation, or performance.
This Week’s Gratitude
As we head into Thanksgiving week, here’s what I’m grateful for:
God’s mercies are new every morning - Including this Sunday morning when I didn’t publish yesterday. His grace covers my imperfection, including my distraction.
My family and friends - God blessed me with children to love and who love me; I refer to these amazing humans as my young people. My Ward family and those connected with us. My friends, because we choose to be friends, unlike family, who didn’t get a say in the matter.
My daughters are building their businesses - LaQuanda with Crown Me Wig Collection and Taneka with Winners Win. Watching them step into their CEO identities is one of my greatest joys.
The ability to write - To sit in Sunday morning silence, process my thoughts, and share these words with you. This is a gift I don’t take for granted.
This community - You. The person reading this right now. Whether you’ve been with me since the beginning in 2020 or this is your first Live Inspired Letter, you’re the reason I show up every week.
The book inside me - And the books inside you. The stories we’re called to tell, the wisdom we’re meant to share, the legacy we’re building through words.
Rest as a spiritual discipline - The permission to not be productive every single moment. To sit in silence. To feel “blah” and choose thanksgiving anyway.
What are you grateful for this week? Take a moment and write down three things. Specific things. Let thanksgiving shift your posture from scarcity to abundance and from performance to gratitude.
Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for this Thanksgiving week.
Thank You for the gift of rest, even when it feels uncomfortable. Thank You for the permission to feel “blah” and still choose gratitude. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning, including the mornings when we miss deadlines, fall short, or simply don’t feel like showing up.
Help us this week to enter every day through the gate of thanksgiving. Because You are good, and God Your love endures forever. Your faithfulness continues through all generations, including this one, right now, in this moment.
Thank You for the tables we’re preparing…literal Thanksgiving tables and the metaphorical tables we’re building in our businesses, ministries, and lives. Thank You for the people who will gather around them.
Give us rest when we need it. Give us energy when it’s time to work. And give us the wisdom to know the difference.
We’re grateful this Thursday week and every day.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your Turn
Tell me: What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving week?
Leave a comment and let’s build a gratitude thread. I’ll be reading every response.
Live Inspired,
Yvette
P.S. - If you found value in today’s letter, consider leaving a tip. Your support helps me reach more women with daily encouragement. I appreciate you! 💜
If you want more, here’s the verse and short message I wrote earlier this morning.
Inspired Eagle Enterprise: Facilitating the Open Door to Your Business Success
Women Winners: Keeping Your Faith at the Center of Your Life and Business
If this resonated with you, share it with another woman who needs to hear it. Sometimes we all need the reminder to enter through the gate of thanksgiving instead of the gate of stress.