And be thankful. Colossians 3:15b ESV
How do you get to a place of thankfulness when it would be so easy to just give up and become bitter or beaten down by the tough seasons in life? Everywhere you turn others are talking about their sweet family traditions and keeping a daily journal on their instagram page of things they are thankful for and you, well, you find yourself thinking…what do I have to do to catch a break here?
Yep, I hear you sweet friend. It’s not always sunshine and lollipops in my world either, but let me let you in on a little secret…sometimes you gotta start right where you are. Whether you are in the middle of a mountain of laundry, a marriage that is falling apart, or a job that barely covers your monthly expenses. You are in a place where you can learn to be thankful even when you don’t feel like it.
Nope, not profound, but it can actually be a game changer if you sit with me on this for just a minute.
In the verse above, I only gave you a little tiny piece of what was going on but in that piece were three words — and be thankful.
Three words, that’s it.
And be thankful.
To give you a better idea of what to do with, “and be thankful”, here’s the rest of the verse and those right after it.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17 ESV
Do you see it now? It’s so incredible when God points it out directly to us in His Word. You want to know how to be thankful even when you don’t feel like it, then here’s how to get started.
- Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. (v15)
What does that look like?
1) It means accepting who you are in Him and resting in His grace, love and mercy.
2) Instead of envying what others have or what you see on social media, be truly happy for them and choose to see the blessings in your own life.
- Let the Word of Christ dwell in you. (v16)
How do you even do that?
1) Read the Bible, learn from it, grow in it and let it become a part of your daily life.
2) Listen to praise and worship songs throughout your day.
3) Make a conscious choice to put thankfulness in your heart.
- Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do in the name of the Lord Jesus. (v17)
What does that look like?
1) In the middle of that mountain of laundry you make a choice to give thanks to God for the gift of having a family or people around you that you are able to serve them by doing the laundry.
2) In the marriage that is falling apart you decide to say thank you Jesus that it’s not over yet and you give your marriage to God and give Him thanks for it…even when it seems impossible to be thankful for at that moment.
3) In the job that barely covers your monthly expenses you can shine bright with the joy of the Lord and ask God to show you how you can be used at your workplace to bring Him glory.
Is it going to be easy? Absolutely not…anything that is worth it is worth the hard work. It won’t miraculously change overnight but day by day, when you decide to be thankful even when you don’t feel like it changes will happen.
If you have breath in your lungs right now sweet friend, then there’s still time to be thankful.
What about you?
Which of these three things are you willing to try today to learn how to be thankful?
What do you think will change in your life when you do?
Here’s an Instagram sized reminder for you today:
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
