Seeing God Through the Lens of Gratitude
This November, we’re slowing down to reflect on what it really means to cultivate gratitude. Scripture tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances,” but that kind of gratitude isn’t a one-time event–it’s a rhythm. A way of seeing God’s hand in the everyday.
Throughout this week, we’re sharing personal reflections from members of the ACO family–board members, pastors, and ministry partners who have seen God’s goodness in unexpected ways. From quiet moments of worship in Kenya to the curveballs of everyday life, their stories remind us that gratitude isn’t based on what we have, but on who God is.
Join us as we walk through these stories and rediscover the daily rhythm of giving thanks.
Devotional
“Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God.”
Hebrews 12:28
Seeing life through the lens of God’s unshakable kingdom changes everything! By God’s radical grace and mercy, He has brought me into His family, adopted me—though a prodigal—and made me His own. When I allow the Holy Spirit to lead me to really see, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and thanksgiving.
The source of all gratitude is seeing God—seeing the wonder of His kingdom, His church, and His sovereign purposes being carried out across continents and generations. There is much distraction, suffering, and many daily perceived inconveniences that can keep me from seeing God and prevent me from remaining grateful. But the daily habit of starting my day in God’s Word and prayer to Him helps me reset and put on my “kingdom glasses.”
This year, I have been reading through the Bible a little differently than before: I am listening to Scripture being read to me. God has used this hearing of His Word to provide new insight into Himself that stays with me throughout the day. So for me, to remain thankful through all the daily life stuff and to practice gratitude, I must start my day with Him—at His feet, in His Word, talking to Him. Then He faithfully resets my mind and heart to see Him—and when we see Him, the only response is to be thankful and worship.
I first traveled to Kenya to serve with the ACO team this past summer. Throughout this trip, God allowed me to see Him over and over again. My friend and I taught a baking class throughout the week to students and community members in Kilifi. We laughed all week at ourselves trying to teach baking outside of our first-world kitchens, without access to first-world grocery stores, while also converting all our recipes into metric measurements!
We couldn’t conceive how we would successfully bake banana bread in a charcoal oven without any way to set the oven to a specific temperature. As we worked to adapt recipes to available ingredients, guess at measurements and cooking times, and, at the same time, build relationships and ensure everyone felt included… God created a beautiful moment—one of my favorites of the trip!
After the chaos of measuring, mixing, and praying that something edible came out of the oven, one of the members of the community began to play his guitar, which led to a spontaneous singing of hymns—sweet, pure, sincere worship. In that small room, warm from the oven and activity, suddenly we were all worshiping in song to a present, Holy God.
God created holy ground! In that moment, He allowed me to see the beauty of Christ’s church—His global church—and to see Himself, the faithful God who makes us family across continents. I saw His unshakable kingdom. I was thankful, and I worshiped.
(And yes—the banana bread was edible, by God’s grace!)
Closing Reflection:
Gratitude grows when we start our day with God. May our mornings — and our hearts — be marked by thanksgiving.
This reflection comes from Candace Hamilton, who traveled with ACO to Kenya and experienced firsthand how gratitude transforms ordinary moments into worship. Her story is a reminder that gratitude is sustained by daily rhythms of seeing and seeking God.