Not long ago, I explored the idea of combining a body scan with gratitude. A body scan elevates awareness of the body. Sometimes the speed of life, personality traits, circumstances, and cultural influences impede one’s ability to pay attention to body sensations. We take for granted our beating heart, flowing blood, and regenerating cells. We breathe the air around us as though entitled to life. We stop to recognize a pulled muscle or bruise only because pain alerts us to a problem. Too often we live disembodied, neglecting the invitation of God to experience Him through our physical body.
Scan – look at parts of something carefully in order to detect some feature.
Jesus was the visible form of God. He lived an embodied life for 33 years. Jesus likely overextended muscles, experienced hunger, noticed His beating heart, and built up calluses on his feet. Within His body, Jesus felt emotions such as anguish and sorrow, joy and delight. Jesus lived an integrated life in which His mind, heart, and body each received due honor and respect. We are made in His image. God designed the body as an important and necessary component of our soul. The body is a part of the essence of who God designed each of us to be. He made us to live with our heart, mind, and body.
Throughout Scripture, God declares the beautiful origin of each human person – we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). And, the act of gratitude floods the words of Jesus, and many who lived long ago (1 Chronicles 29, Daniel 6:10, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 100, Matthew 11:25; 14:19, Colossians 2:6-7, etc.) How can we combine our body sensations with gratitude? In what ways can our bodies become vessels of gratitude? Might the body and thanksgiving connect in relationship to and communion with God?
Join me in a prayerful practice I call The Gratitude Scan.
Before you begin, wonder, “How am I feeling?” Notice without critique or judgment – just become aware of yourself and body. A scan moves with slowness, unhurried. This scan offers space to savor, linger, and rest.
Without analysis or correction – just notice throughout the scan – look for God with Gratitude. Pause along the way to become aware of any sensation(s) connected with the various parts of your body.
Practice introspection – sense the inner body and any parallel perceptions to the outer body, thought, and emotion. Traverse through the body like an external and internal scanner – allow this contemplative practice to lead to thanksgiving and gratitude to God.
As you move through The Gratitude Scan, become aware of each specific part of the body one by one – feel it, move it, meet God through it in gratitude. Reflect with God. Remain in a posture of gratitude. Too often we shift quickly from praise to petition. The focus of this practice is gratitude, praise and thanksgiving to God. If an awareness of tension arises with a certain part of the body, pause and thank God for His presence with you. No need to solve or fix the tension – receive the presence of God with you in the tension.
First – put both feet flat upon the floor. Notice the sturdy foundation. Remind yourself that God is your Rock (Psalm 18:2). (You can either lay down, or sit in a comfortable chair)
Next, notice your chair or the ground which supports your backside. Remember that God remains faithful to support His children (Psalm 46).
God, we come to you – (take a deep breath in and slowly breathe out)
Head – (Become aware of your head) – Thank God for your mind. Thank God for your ability to think, reflect, draw conclusions, analyze, and create.
Face – (squeeze, twitch, move the parts of your face)
Move your eyes – open and close them – Thank God for sight. Thank God for something you have seen in the past day.
Twitch your nose – Thank God for your nose. Thank God for a fragrant aroma from the last 24 hours.
Open and close your mouth, contort it – Thank God for your ability to taste. Thank God for the ability to speak. Thank God for something you’ve eaten recently or a word you spoke with another person.
Try to wiggle your ears – Thank God for the ability to hear both externally and internally. Thank God for moments of silence and rest for your ears.
Neck – (slowly turn neck side to side, up and down) – Thank God for His direction in your life. Thank God for a specific way He has led you recently.
Shoulders – (roll forward, roll backward, alternate) – Thank God for bearing the burdens in your life and of the world. Thank God for His mysterious might.
Back – (arch and hunch) – Thank God for His strength. Thank God for a way you sensed His strength in the past week.
Arms and hands – (jiggle arms, circle wrists, move fingers) – Thank God for those you serve. Thank God for those who serve you.
Heart – (bring both hands to your heart) – Thank God for His generous and extravagant love. Thank God for the affective aspect of your being. Thank God for your emotions and the sensations of His presence
Core – (twist at waist side to side) – Thank God for centering you in Himself. Thank God for the ways He grounds you with His peace.
Gut – (push tummy in and out) – Thank God for His compassion towards you. Thank God for His care in the depths of your gut. Thank God for a recent experience of His compassion and kindness.
Legs – (shake each leg) – Thank God for the places He has taken you. Thank God for His protection over you.
Knees – (bend back and forth) – Thank God of the gift of being in relationship with Him. Thank God for hearing your prayers and attending to the cares and concerns on your heart.
Feet/toes – (circle ankles, wiggle toes) – Thank God for being your foundation. Thank God for making you steady and balanced.
Breath – (take two deep breaths – breathe in for two counts, hold for two counts, breathe out for two counts, hold for two counts) – Thank God for giving you breath and life. Thank God for giving you “life to the full.”
Surrounding air – (notice the air surrounding you) – Thank God for His love which envelops you. Thank God for sustaining you both personally and in community.
Breath – (take two more deep breaths – breathe in for two counts, hold for two counts, breathe out for two counts, hold for two counts) – Thank God that He integrates your entire being – mind, heart, body. Thank God for making you whole.
God, Thank You for Your steadfast Presence. I love you,
Amen.
This week – – –
Reflect. Take a moment to notice how you feel now after taking The Gratitude Scan. Pay attention to any movement in your soul. Perhaps you feel more relaxed or settled? Maybe you recognize that it felt challenging to remain in gratitude and not shift to praying about your needs, concerns, and wants? Or, quite possibly, you perceive a deeper connection with God? Observe how you feel: mind, heart, body. Talk with God about it.
Request. Wonder with God. Ask God how He experienced your gratitude? Imagine. How did God feel as you shared your thanksgiving? What might the thoughts of God towards you be in this moment? Remember He always comes in love. God is Love. Thank God for receiving your gratitude.
Receive. What about your body and gratitude seem highlighted to you through The Gratitude Scan? What surprised you about this practice? Is there a part of the body in gratitude you sense God inviting you to revisit with Him? Try The Gratitude Scan as a consistent spiritual rhythm to foster your communion with God and increase your joy in the Lord.
Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Matthew 14:19 – And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
Daniel 6:10 – Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Justin Whitmel Earley. The Body Teaches the Soul: Ten Essential Habits to Form a Healthy and Holy Life. Grand Rapids, MI. 2025.
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada. Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy. Chicago, IL. 2011.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Brandan Lake. Gratitude. Click here to watch & listen.
Matt Redman. Praise God. Click here to watch and listen.
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
May 30-June 13 – Quarryville, PA – Black Rock Retreat, Summer Camp Staff Training
June 7 – Quarryville, PA – Black Rock Retreat, Meet and Steep with Jenni Women’s Event – click here for more details
July 6-10 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
July 13-21 – Kigali, Rwanda – Soul Care Retreat and Training
August 13-17 – Lincoln, CA – Visit my parents and siblings
🙏 If you would like to partner with me through financial giving, click here to give a tax-deductible gift to The Soulcare Anchoress Fund. Thank you! 🌷