My oldest granddaughter was working on schoolwork alongside me in my study the other day while I was doing my own work. I got up to get something to drink and brought one for her as well. She took it and looked at me and simply said “Thank you Grandpa!” Now, she says “thank you” often, but for some reason it just sounded so sweet to hear her express gratitude to me so clearly and quickly. The expression of gratitude for my small gesture was like a blast of cold air conditioning on a hot day! I appreciated that and I thought about my own spirit of gratitude. How thankful am I for the people around me every day and for the things that they do for me to show their love? And then beyond that, how thankful is my heart each day to the God who loves me, forgives me, provides for me, protects me…and it just keeps going on? So often, I find myself focusing on what I don’t have or what didn’t work out like I wanted it to. The Bible tells us to “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” But there are two key verses before that that only have three words in each of them. The first one says to always be joyful. That means that we have a choice of our attitude which will shape our actions. And the next verse says, “Never stop praying”. That means that we spend time soaking up the goodness and love and kindness of God, by talking to him and listening with our hearts to his spirit. And only then does it say to “Be thankful in all circumstances.” To really be thankful in our hearts and to then express it to God and to others…we need to lay some groundwork. We choose how we will live through life and circumstances that surround us each day. But to do that, we need to soak up some of the power and presence of the God who walks with us each and every day through prayer. And when we do those two things, we will have hearts that focus on the goodness of God and of the people around us who touch our lives and give us reason to simply say “Thank you”. God is good and he will often show his goodness through others. So, no matter how you are experiencing your life right now, choose an attitude of joy and never stop praying. And then “thank you” will easily flow from you and you will find yourself fulfilling what is God’s will for you in that moment. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT Always be joyful. (17) Never stop praying. (18) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT Always be joyful. (17) Never stop praying. (18) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ