Philippians 4:4-9 is the most highlighted passages in scripture. In this passage Paul encourages the congregation to live as citizens of a heavenly city, to grow in service to God and others by following the example of Jesus Christ. We are urged to adopt an attitude of joy and reason, replacing our anxiety with expectant, grateful prayer.
When we allow our hearts to grow in appreciation for the gifts of God and his grace, we not only grow in gratitude, but we grow in faith. As our spiritual vision improves, so too must the way we live. A life of gratitude holds hidden gifts including trust, hope, joy and sharing with others.
In Ephesians 1, Apostle Paul shows us the spiritual blessings God has planned for us since the beginning of time. Spiritual blessings of an election, a glorious inheritance, and a perfect relationship with him where we live with him forever. The gratitude for these blessings, when taken to heart, far surpasses any natural blessings we can ever receive here on this side of the heavenly realm.
After opening our eyes to the gifts around us, we must now move our attention to the ultimate gift: Jesus Christ. By faith in Jesus and his work here on earth, we are filled with endless gratitude and able to enjoy the pleasure of being thankful for God’s favour towards us as his creatures and as his redeemed.
Psalm 34 is a well-known invitation from David to bring thanksgiving to God. Is it always possible to be thankful to God? Is he really good every day?
This year Thanksgiving has been hijacked, like so many other aspects of our lives, by a nasty little virus that threatens our lives, our livelihood, and our sanity. During this crazy pandemic, isn’t it crazy to want to give thanks?
I often wonder if God looks down on us and shakes his head sadly wondering: “Why are my children always so disheartened and discouraged? How can they be so blind to all the wonders around them?”