Friday, February 22
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1st Thessalonians 5:18)
What do you do when something good happens in your life? Do you give thanks to God? Many of us do, sometimes out of a feeling of obligation, but when we express thanks we discover that it adds to the joy we are feeling and makes whatever we are thankful for even more gratifying.
Fact is, gratitude can be a powerful force for good in our lives and a wonderful spiritual practice that helps lead to lasting joy and contentment. Today’s Bible verse tells us to express gratitude “in everything,” which means that we are to be thankful in all the instances of our lives, not just those in which we have received a blessing. Yes, gratitude is a response to something good happening, but it is also so much more. Gratitude is productive. It has a way of opening the door to even more goodness, providing even more to be thankful for!
It may seem counterintuitive to express gratitude even when you seem to lack something you need, but doing so demonstrates an understanding that God loves you and that all events in your life are meant to bless you and unfold for your good. When we stop to closely examine our lives and the world at large, we can always discover things to be thankful for. Even when something seems to be missing, gratitude confirms in your heart that God is the source of all blessings and good is surely on its way.
By maintaining an attitude of thankfulness, we cultivate an awareness that God is an active, loving presence in our lives and that good will be the unfailing result of our prayers. Let us give thanks now and expect God’s blessings. –Peter Stilla
We give you thanks, O God, for the gifts we see readily, for the gifts hidden behind struggle, for the gift of gratitude. Amen.