“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Power of Thankfulness
I’m sitting here this morning, drinking coffee out of one of my favorite mugs, which says “Thankful” on it. As I look at it today, I’m reminded of how thankful I am.
I am thankful that my son, who most likely had the coronavirus, is recovering and feels much better today. I am thankful that no one in my entire huge family has missed a paycheck during this season. I am thankful the sun is out today. I am thankful for a comfortable home with everything I need during this time of having to stay at home.
My kids know that when they are grumbling and complaining, Mom is always going to give them counsel to be thankful in all circumstances. I believe that thankfulness is a powerful key to releasing peace and joy in our lives no matter the situation. There is always something we can be thankful for, and when we put our focus on that instead of grumbling and complaining, we learn the secret to contentment in every situation (Philippians 4:12).
Now more than ever it is important to keep ourselves encouraged. There is so much fear, anxiety, bad news and negativity out there, and it is so easy to get sucked into all of that. I’ve heard it said that as believers, we are to be thermostats and not thermometers. We should set the tone (or temperature) for ourselves and those around us, not the other way around. This takes some effort in taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ. We need to take captive those thoughts that are against what we know about God’s character.
We do need to be aware and wise, but we also need to make a choice to trust God and not get sucked into the cycle of negativity. One way to do that is to remain thankful.
What are you thankful for today?
— Tricia Hudson, Pro Athletes Outreach
If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com.
