Thankfulness Overflows – Gratitude 4

Scripture: Colossians 2 (Click Link)

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7 NLT)

Paul tells us to faithfully follow the path we set out on when we trusted Jesus as our Lord. As we continue following Jesus, our roots will grow deeply into him (not into religion, but into Jesus Christ himself!). Our faith will grow strong and our lives will overflow with gratitude. Our Thanks Tank will overflow!

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

In 1980, Jean and I resigned from a ministry role that was the very desire of our hearts. We had worked toward that ministry for a decade and our hearts were full of joy. Then a conflict occurred and we left rather than allow the conflict to divide the church. For the next four years we felt the loss, but worked at the tasks at hand. The simpler, slower life pace of those four years became the glue that solidified our relationship with our two daughters. Those difficult years were full of goodness!

Everything in our lives today flows out of the decision we made to let go of something that had been the desire of our hearts. The relationship we have with our daughters, the ministries we were able to develop in Jamaica and the UK, the many pastors and churches we were able to introduce our Foundation for Christian Service Course to in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Malawi, the friendships we have around the world—all these things flow out of that difficult set of circumstances.

The two fine men our daughters married, our grandsons, the place we live and serve today, even the GraceNotes daily devotionals reaching you wherever you’re reading this today—all that flows out of that difficult set of circumstances. I’m deeply thankful “for” the circumstances I once struggled to be thankful “in”! Be patient, friends, your Thanks Tank will overflow!

Prayer:

Father, As I look back on circumstances I once struggled to be thankful “in”, I am now, without reservation thankful “for” those things! I’m thankful that we didn’t settle for what might have been and I thank you with all my heart for what is! In Jesus’ Name!