Thursday 21 May
~ Daryl Etherington
Today I read these words in Colossians 3, ‘cultivate thankfulness’. My mind was taken back many years, when during a very difficult time, a dear christian friend of mine advised me to, ‘stay thankful’. It was the last thing I expected or wanted to hear but I knew she was speaking from love and experience.
We have all experienced the amazing way our Father changes the atmosphere and our attitude when we choose (sometimes reluctantly) to praise Him during a time of trial or crisis, but on ordinary, boring, humdrum days it can be easy to forget to be thankful.
So how do we cultivate thankfulness?
Since my friend gave me that advice I’ve made a daily habit of purposely thanking my Heavenly Father for ten things. Some days I’ve struggled and thanked Him for the weather, my food, my bed. Other days I’m buzzing about an incredible blessing I’ve received. Most often my last and deepest gratitude is for my wonderful Saviour and the love, joy and hope I have just by being a child of God.
I have found, the more I speak out my gratitude, the more of Father’s blessings I become aware of. So the more I have to be thankful for. The cycle doesn’t end, it just gets bigger. Could this be the results of cultivating the crop? Maybe, but one thing I am sure about is that I know that I am truly blessed. My God is good, kind and loving and He knows how to take good care of his children. I just love praising and thanking Him.
Why don’t you take some time today, and in the days ahead, to thank God. Start cultivating thankfulness today.