Our value this week for our worship focus is ‘Thankfulness’. What are you thankful for? Is there enough evidence in your actions and attitudes that demonstrate that you are thankful?
An assembly last week did a little social experiment which I thought was very interesting. At the end of the assembly, a couple of students held the door open for the others as they left. How many of the 250 students do you think said “Thank you”?
My mum is a great letter writer. She loves ‘snail mail’. Even with the increasing cost of a stamp (when was the last time you bought a stamp), she still continues to write letters and cards for everyone she knows. In her letters, she makes sure she overflows with both the knowledge of their situation as well as all the good things that are going on in her world. Mum is thankful for her friends and for all the blessings she has, and it overflows.
Life can feel like a rollercoaster at times. Sometimes it can be difficult to count our blessings. St Paul understood this, having spent years of his life being flogged and imprisoned. But he too had the gift of letter writing and being thankful. He started most of his letters like this:
1 Thessalonians 1-2: “Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”
What a great habit that Paul, Silas and Timothy had established. They continually prayed and gave thanks for others. Paul’s letters continually encouraged his readers and friends to pray in every situation. This included in times of fear and anxiety.
Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Today, let us consider whether thankfulness is a habit we have established in our own lives. Even when we face trials and fears, remember to ‘overflow with thankfulness’.
