Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Gratitude

This devotion was so good, I couldn't pass it up. I just had to share it.

Gratitude

READ: Colossians 3:12 - 17

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
COLOSSIANS 3:17

Among the first words many of us were taught to say are please and thank you. No one gets quite as excited as a parent or grandparent when a toddler first utters those words and makes the connection between asking politely and receiving gratefully.

But I suspect that as we grow older we become more adept at saying please than thank you, especially with our heavenly Father. We focus more on pressing needs than on previous provisions; we petition more than we praise. And while God invites us to come to Him with all our needs, He also urges us to make gratitude a habit.

In Colossians 3:15, Paul instructed every follower of Jesus Christ to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” Then three times he reminded us to remain grateful to God: “be thankful” (v.15); sing with gratitude to the Lord (v.16); “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (v.17).

Dr. Michael Avery, president of God’s Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio, has said: “Very few things honor and glorify God more than the sweet fragrance of a thankful soul. It expels gloom and ushers in sweet peace and blessed hope. Gratitude encourages graciousness.”

It’s good to give thanks to God.

We thank You, Lord, for blessings
You give us on our way;
May we for these be grateful,
And praise You every day.
~ Roworth

Gratitude should be a continuous attitude, not just an occasional incident.


~ written by : David McCasland

3 comments:

Elizabeth Pruett said...

This is a good devotion. Thank you for sharing it, Zac.

Matt Ahearn said...

Ditto, that is cool. :)

Anonymous said...

This is a very good devotional. Makes me think of the past when I was a child. And now that I have my own.