“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6
I faced a tough decision recently about the use of my time. Would I continue occupational therapy whose purpose was to achieve functional use of my arm and hand? Or would I use my time to provide volunteer legal help to Christian organizations, where my expertise could help advance the gospel? I believe God directed me to discontinue the therapy, but I was not very thankful through the decision-making process.
The Apostle Paul certainly could have been ungrateful; just read the list in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 of all he’d suffered! Yet he was overwhelmed by the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and regularly filled his letters and prayers with thanksgiving (see Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 1:4, Ephesians 1:6, Colossians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 13). When we feel we have a reason to complain, we can focus instead on all we are grateful for.
Doing so will enrich our time with God in prayer. “Thanking God restores the natural order of our dependence on God. It enables us to see life as it really is” (Paul Miller, 2009).
The Apostle Paul certainly could have been ungrateful; just read the list in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 of all he’d suffered! Yet he was overwhelmed by the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and regularly filled his letters and prayers with thanksgiving (see Romans 1:8, 1 Corinthians 1:4, Ephesians 1:6, Colossians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 13). When we feel we have a reason to complain, we can focus instead on all we are grateful for.
Doing so will enrich our time with God in prayer. “Thanking God restores the natural order of our dependence on God. It enables us to see life as it really is” (Paul Miller, 2009).
Scripture Focus
Philippians 4:1-9
Insight
The more we thank God for His goodness, the more our lives will reflect a thankful spirit to those around us.
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 12-13
- Psalm 67
- John 8
