“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”—1 Thessalonians 1:2–3
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 then 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.
Gratitude in Action: Thank others for being a blessing to you.
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.
Pray for a Grateful Heart
Loving God, I want to love people the way You showed us. Help me to express my gratitude to others for specific ways they have invested in me and enriched my life. Thank You for giving me people who love me and care for me. Open my eyes to every person who needs encouragement from me for how they have loved me. Thank You! Amen!
