Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it with
an attitude of thanksgiving;
Colossians 4:2
While I was in college, I was a member of my church’s youth/college choir. The Youth Pastor asked me to lead a group of choir members in setting up the sound system for our different concerts. At one point, the Youth Pastor pulled me aside and communicated the importance of saying “Thank You.” I had been telling the people that helped me what to do, but I never expressed my appreciation for their time or work. It got to the point where people didn’t want to help me set up the sound system, and they felt used and a bit abused. I am SO thankful to the Youth Pastor for helping me learn and understand the importance of saying “Thank You.” The importance of the attitude of gratitude!
It is too easy to take people for granted. I think it is also too easy to take God for granted. We get caught up in the busyness of life. We get focused on the problems and needs that arise. We ask God to meet our needs. When our prayers are answered, it’s easy to give a sigh of relief without saying “Thank You.”
Did you know that it is God’s will for you and me to be thankful? In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Apostle Paul says,
“in everything, give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
In Colossians 3:17, we read,
“Whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
And then again, in Colossians 4:2, Paul writes,
“Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Let’s never get too busy to say “Thank You” to God. Let’s never take Him for granted. Let’s always have an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE toward the One who deeply loves us and is so good!
Giving Thanks,
Pastor Tom