Day 19

Day 19:
Romans 1:8 ; 1 Corinthians 1:4 ; Ephesians 1:15–16 ; Philippians 1:3–4 ; Colossians 1:3–4 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:3

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you

When you read Paul’s New Testament letters, you can’t help but notice he was thankful for others. Paul didn’t just leave it at generalized expressions of gratitude—he often took time to identify specific individuals for whom he was grateful and to let them know how much he appreciated their contribution to his life and ministry.

People matter to God. And they should matter to us. It’s important to take time to recognize and express appreciation for the contributions that even little-known people make to His kingdom and to our lives. Today, make a list of individuals who have blessed or touched your life in some way. Ask yourself, “Have I ever thanked this person for the way God has used him/her in my life?” Put a checkmark next to each individual to whom you have expressed gratitude.

Then begin the process of catching up on your “gratitude accounts.” Don’t try to tackle the whole list at once. Pick one for starters. In the next twenty-four hours, find a way to express your gratitude for that person’s influence and impact in your life. Then move to the next one … and the next.

Imogene~ Do we see the beauty of God in all of our friends that are such blessings in our lives? WE SHOULD!