If you’re like me, by now, your original lofty New Years resolution list has been downsized to a, shall we say, more user-friendly set of goals.

As I entered February, I began my reassessment of why it is that I seem to discard the same resolutions year after year. Before too much guilt set in, the Holy Spirit nudged me to not let go of one particular goal I had set: to be consciously thankful every day. I don’t mean a casual “Thank You, Lord” when I remembered to say it, but I felt challenged in my spirit to express daily thanks—to speak thankfulness and act thankful. Less complaining, more thankfulness.

So often we start and end our day with a “need mentality.” I need to go here, do this, I need to call her, email them, I need to pick this up, and I need to drop this off. I need to finish this project and they need me, my love, time, and attention. Oh, and I need money to pay these bills and did I mention, I really, really need rest.

Again, thankfulness gets crowded out as the pressing needs take over. And we miss the blessings thankfulness can bring our way. Virtue is restored when we are thankful. Perspective is clearer when thankfulness is present. Our needs seem small when compared to all we have to be thankful for.

I began to study scriptures on thankfulness and was amazed at how often thankfulness is connected to prayers. I was even more surprised to see the relationship between thankfulness and peace, something we all need. God is very vocal about His desire for us to be thankful. Consider the following scriptures.

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18).

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High” (Psalm 92:1).

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

Wow! We are to enter with thanksgiving, watch and continue in thanksgiving, supplicate with thanksgiving and give thanks in all things. I think this pretty much says “lifestyle thanksgiving.”

And what do we get in return? A promise that money can’t buy and the gym can’t produce. The beautiful promise that the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Now, about that list. Why don’t you make 2011 a year of thankfulness? You have nothing to lose, and answered prayers and peace to gain.