Hi and welcome back. Today’s episode continues on with our theme of being a Success For The Kingdom. So today we’re going to focus on that attitude of gratitude.
Being thankful in every circumstance. Today’s key verse is from
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you
If you’re listening to this podcast and you live in the United States you better be giving thanks for all that you have. We are truly blessed in this country.
I was in the Navy for 14 years and I visited some countries where the poverty level is unimaginable. Yet in those same countries the people there were truly thankful for all that they had. And all that they had wasn’t much. They focused on the good and not their circumstances.
Psalms 112:7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
Yet here in the United States we focus on what the news media dishes out to us. We focus on the pandemic, the economy, the government, and where our next roll of toilet paper is coming from.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We have been pampered for so many years, that when adversity enters our lives, we don’t know how to deal with it. We take everything for granted. We donate one day a year for giving thanks. Everyday that you wake up, you should be thanking God, for giving you one more day of life. We even take that for granted.
So what can we do to be more thankful?
Maybe start your day with a gratitude journal. Write down three things every morning that you’re grateful for. Whether that’s having food on the table or getting through another session of chemotherapy. We all have something to be thankful for. The nice thing about writing it down is that when adversity hits, you can look back in your journal at all the blessings that God has bestowed upon you.
We not only need to give thanks to God, we need to let others know that we are grateful for the impact they have made in our life. Everyone needs validation. They need to feel appreciated.
Paul was definitely one too give thanks to those who were instrumental in his ministry. The Philippians continually sent Paul support. He was more than grateful as can be seen in this thank you letter to the Philippians.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Paul starts this letter out by emphasizing their commonality in Christ Jesus.
But he makes sure that it’s all inclusive. His thank you letter is extended not only to the overseers, or lay people, but to the Deacons of the church as well. He wanted to make sure nobody felt left out.
Sometimes we tend to leave people out when we are handing out our thank yous.
Maybe you got a promotion and you thanked your boss for it. But you failed to thank your co-workers who helped you gain the skills you needed to get the promotion to begin with. Sometimes we just need to be humble and realize we didn’t get where we are by ourselves.
Paul continues on in
Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul uses this distinctive greeting in almost all of his letters. His desire for the Philippians, as well as for all the saints, is that they may have the grace which comes from the throne of grace. To help in every time of need.
Paul, wants them to have what he has, the peace of God. That peace which passes all understanding, that their hearts and minds might be kept through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-5 says, I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 1:4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 1:5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Do we want others to have what we have?
Are we encouraging other believers with Paul’s simple message? We need to lift our brothers and sisters up, and bring to remembrance that peace and Grace that is freely theirs.
We should always thank God for bringing godly people into our lives.
Those individuals who strengthened our faith; who were there for us in our time of need; that were steadfast in their faith and shared the gospel with us. These prayers of Thanksgiving should bring joy to our hearts when we think about all the people God has brought to us.
Paul’s thank you letter to the Philippians was truly heartfelt as he put pen to paper or papyrus. I’m sure the time it took to write that letter meant a lot to the Philippians.
In today’s society we’ll send a quick text and say thank you and then maybe we’ll copy and paste it and send it to someone else.
We’re all too busy to take the time to write a heartfelt letter of thanks to someone. We need to get out of our Facebook mentality and reach out with sincerity to those we love and care about.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
If we really care about someone we should share the confidence that we have in them. To let them know that we see the fruit that they are bearing and encourage them to continue on.
Philippians 1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
The Philippians were with Paul through thick and thin. While he was in prison they were his supporters. When there was false teaching they defended the gospel. Paul wanted them to know that they were very near and dear to him, as he held them in his heart.
If there is somebody who is very near and dear to you let them know it.
Too often we assume that others know how we feel about them. That’s not always true. Let them know that you care about them and that you are grateful for their support.
Philippians 1:8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Paul uses the phrase for God is my witness one other time in Romans chapter 1 verses 9 and 10. He uses it for emphasis, to show his sincerity and his affection for them, as he models Christ.
In everything we do, others should just see Christ in us.
Our affections should not be worldly affections. But our affection should be true and pure as we show the love of Christ in all that we say and do.
I would like to end this episode by thanking you, my listeners, for taking the time out of your day to hear what God has put on my heart, to share with you.
Your continued support of this ministry means so much to me. If just one person listens and comes to a saving Grace, it is time well spent. May God continue to bless you and may you always have a spirit of Thanksgiving.