Thanksgiving Prayer

Colossians 1:3-8 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. We’ve done this since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all God’s people. You have this faith and love because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You previously heard about this hope through the true message, the good news, which has come to you. This message has been bearing fruit and growing among you since the day you heard and truly understood God’s grace, in the same way that it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world. You learned it from Epaphras, who is the fellow slave we love and Christ’s faithful minister for your sake. He informed us of your love in the Spirit. 

There are so many things we can be thankful for. We can be thankful for the weather, for positive outcomes, for great visits, for the flowers, for things people do for us. We can be thankful when our life is going in such a way that it benefits us. But what about when it doesn’t seem like life is fair? Can we still be thankful and express thanks?

Paul is writing this letter while he is in prison. By all accounts, he should feel low and bad for his circumstances. He should not be in a place of thanks because everything is going against him. Or so it seems. Paul is showing the readers of this letter, and us, that whatever circumstance we are in, we should and can give thanks.

I invite you to reread the passage above and see what resonates with you. What stands out? Is this something you can do? Now a tougher question. Can and do you and I give thanks for even the difficulties and the difficult people in our lives? Paul says in his first letter to the Thessalonians, “Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” How does this play out in our lives?

Paul has people with him, while he is in prison, who help provide for his needs and give him companionship. He could be spreading a negative feeling and attitude for his predicament and saying his people are not coming to help him. He could be in a mindset that he just wants to give up. But he is not.

The imprisoned Paul is thanking God for the work God is doing within the people and through them to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ and make a positive impact in their culture and community. He is not mad or angry they are not giving him more attention. He is thankful that they are living out their calling that God has placed on their lives. He is encouraged they are allowing God to work in them to produce fruit that will last and will do more for the Kingdom of Heaven.

We have the opportunity to be influencers of people and to help guide them in their thinking and help them live lives worthy of the calling of Christ. When we express thanksgiving and gratitude for how God is working in and through people, our lives, our attitudes and mindsets shift from ourselves to the glory of God and the Kingdom of God. Thanks be to God who is doing this work in you. I thank God for each of you and how you will be fruitful for the Kingdom of Heaven.

#ToTheGloryOfChrist