This verse in Colossians reminds us that our ability to be thankful is not based on our circumstances, but rather on the unchanging love of God for us.
Gratitude is shown in the way we live from that heart of thankfulness for God’s love.
There is a poem written by a German pastor Martin Rinkart that became a well-known hymn. It reminds me that heartfelt thankfulness can lead to actions of gratitude even when our circumstances are dire.
‘Now thank we all our God; With hearts and hands and voices…’
Our ability to be thankful is not based on our circumstances, but rather on the unchanging love of God for us.
Rinkart wrote these words during his time of service in the walled town of Eilenburg. It was during the Thirty Years’ War and the plague was killing young and old alike. Rinkart was performing more than 50 funerals a day, which ended up included his own wife.
Yet, he wrote these words to encourage himself and his children to continue to live with thankfulness to a God who is with us always.
This type of gratitude fills our songs, our spoken words and our actions with the indwelling love of God through Jesus on the best days and the worst days of our lives.
Gratitude is a six-week series inviting listeners to create a habit of gratitude in their lives. Subscribe to the YouVersion plan.
Subscribe to listen to this series and others on Real Hope | The Podcast.
Episode supplied with thanks to Kath Henry.
Originally published as ‘Living with a Thankful Heart’ in Real Hope, Jan-Feb 2024.
Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro
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