LIVING
SPIRITUAL LIFE DEVELOPMENT
Grateful, Thankful, Blessed by JOANNA POLAREK
Blessed are those whose help comes from the God of Jacob, whose hope is centered in the Eternal their God. —PSALM 146:5 (VOICE)
The inspirational quote, “Grateful, Thankful, Blessed,” can be found as wall art, and embroidered on dish towels, coffee cups, T–shirts, and notebook covers. It is a sweet and catchy reminder that we can show gratitude to people and receive it from others. Unfortunately, as we enter the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we may begin to feel the stirrings of our commitment to do too many holiday activities; we scramble to find the perfect gift, and spend what feels like endless hours in the kitchen. So, how can we continue to feel grateful, thankful, and blessed during this season? Do you believe these words hold true during all seasons of your life? The words grateful and thankful are often used hand–in–hand. Pastor Tim Keller once said, “It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.” For example, someone gives you a gift. You are grateful for that person in your life, thankful for the present, and blessed because God has moved this person to care about you. The Scripture is rich with ways to live grateful, thankful, and blessed lives. The message of Christ is that He loves us so much, He came to earth to die for our sins. He paid the ultimate price so that we could ultimately live. In return for Him taking our sin, we are to share this good news with others, and we are to love them. Rejoice in knowing that people can be forgiven and be given this gift from Jesus, if they genuinely want it. During this holiday season, we can be reminded that we have already received the greatest gift—the gift of Jesus Christ. We can turn to our loved ones and be present with them, which allows us to be grateful, thankful, and blessed.
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. — COLOSSIANS 3:16 (NLT)
Volume 7 Number 4, 2021
