… with thanksgiving…
Summary: Thankfulness is a key ingredient to prayer.
Since it is Thanksgiving Day, let’s take a leap back to verse six and fill in a spot we glossed over earlier.
As Paul nears the end of his letter, he exhorts the Philippians, and all believers, to do the following:
Rejoice in the Lord always (v. 4).
Let your gentleness be evident to all (v. 5).
Do not be anxious (v. 6).
Present your requests to God (v. 6):
By being reverent and respectful, and
With thanksgiving!
Why?
Why is being thankful so important that Paul would think to mention it?
Well, let’s look at the other side of the coin. If we are blessed and are not thankful, what are we? We are taking God’s generosity, grace, and mercy for granted; that’s what we are!
As Jesus pointed out, the Greatest Commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). People who take someone for granted are not loving them. They are presuming upon them.
People who take others for granted are condescending.
(Taking a condescending attitude towards God is not a good idea!)
Being thankful is a good idea. People who are humble of heart appreciate what they have, what they are given, and who they are dealing with. In fact, humility is required for all the attributes Paul expects of us.
When we count our blessings this Thanksgiving holiday, it is good to begin by taking a large spoonful of humbleness. If we examine our shortcomings before we count our blessings, we can see the value of our blessings more clearly. The more value we see, the more we rejoice, and the more gratitude we feel for the God who provides.
Application: Prepare for being thankful by first being humble.
Food for Thought: What does the Lord do for you that makes you especially thankful?
I’m thankful for you, my brother, and that God has led you to pursue and faithfully produce these daily devotions. Happy Thanksgiving and may God continue to bless you.
Thank you, JEC!
You are a good friend and very kind! Your words are encouraging and that is something I am thankful for as well! 🙂
One thing I love about my relationship with Jesus is the redemptive and transformative power He has over my life. I’m not saying I have it all together, just that day by day He reveals Himself more and more to me, and I treasure this. I welcome it. I love it when I say yes to the Holy Spirit and after something is “completed” I can see that my thoughts or desires or perspectives have changed.
Chris,
Great to hear from you!!
YES, the power of Christ in us is a multifaceted gem that reflects his blinding light in our lives in many ways.