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"Giving Thanks Always"
“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 2; NIV) Can you name one thing you “always” find yourself doing? How often would giving thanks be an honest answer to that? Perhaps you would say you are always on your cell phone. Or always busy working or studying. Perhaps you are always thinking about the future and making plans for what you hope to see happen next. What are your particular “always things?” |
God’s Word tells you that one of the most important things to be always doing is being thankful. To be giving thanks “always” means simply maintaining an overall, ongoing attitude of thanksgiving. It is often the difference between being overwhelmed by what just happened and being excited for what is ahead.
You may say, however, that this kind of heart and mind is practically impossible to keep up. It is not easy to be happy about, or thankful for. Not every week comes equipped with enough suitable “gratitude” material to work with. But one of the secrets found in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians and (more important) his example toward them is how he deliberately thanked God “for all of you.” To stay constantly thankful, you should routinely be giving thanks for the people in your life.
All the people in your life.
Not just your favorite people, but also those whose names you do not particularly enjoy seeing pop up on your cellphone. Not just your most encouraging leaders and colleagues, but those who push you beyond your comfort zone. Not just people from your own generation and culture who are easier to relate to, but those who are harder to get to know and understand. Not just your closest friends and family members, but also those who, for whatever reason, insist on being your enemies.
You must remember that God is sovereign, totally in control of everything. Nothing comes into your life that He does not allow; nothing comes into your life that He will not transform into something for your good. That is why you can be thankful to Him for how He is using your boss, your father-in-law, your mother, your bossy sibling --- difficult and demanding though they may be --- to shape you into the person you would never otherwise become without them.
Few things dilute and drain your hope quicker than in gratitude. That is why you can never miss a day. Do it always. And never miss an opportunity. Do it for everybody.
Because He Lives,
Pastor Dave
dmagee@dbicc.org
You may say, however, that this kind of heart and mind is practically impossible to keep up. It is not easy to be happy about, or thankful for. Not every week comes equipped with enough suitable “gratitude” material to work with. But one of the secrets found in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians and (more important) his example toward them is how he deliberately thanked God “for all of you.” To stay constantly thankful, you should routinely be giving thanks for the people in your life.
All the people in your life.
Not just your favorite people, but also those whose names you do not particularly enjoy seeing pop up on your cellphone. Not just your most encouraging leaders and colleagues, but those who push you beyond your comfort zone. Not just people from your own generation and culture who are easier to relate to, but those who are harder to get to know and understand. Not just your closest friends and family members, but also those who, for whatever reason, insist on being your enemies.
You must remember that God is sovereign, totally in control of everything. Nothing comes into your life that He does not allow; nothing comes into your life that He will not transform into something for your good. That is why you can be thankful to Him for how He is using your boss, your father-in-law, your mother, your bossy sibling --- difficult and demanding though they may be --- to shape you into the person you would never otherwise become without them.
Few things dilute and drain your hope quicker than in gratitude. That is why you can never miss a day. Do it always. And never miss an opportunity. Do it for everybody.
Because He Lives,
Pastor Dave
dmagee@dbicc.org