I am amazed at how often Paul writes about gratitude—especially in his letter to the Colossians. Gratitude has a starting point—it begins with Christ: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col 2:6-7). “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful” (Col 3:15).
Gratitude is an attitude that must be cultivated; it does not depend on changing circumstances! It relates to the everyday, not just the extraordinary: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17).
You choose to be grateful, just as you choose to be ungrateful. Henry Nouwen said, “What fascinates me so much is that every time we choose to be grateful, it becomes easier to see new things to be grateful for. Gratitude begets gratitude, just as love begets love.”
It’s notable that Paul often mentions prayer and gratitude in the same breath. As he writes in Colossians 4:2: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” There will be things that seek to rob you of a grateful life, hence his warning: be vigilant. Pray and sing. “With gratitude in your hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God” (Col 3:16). Because, as the church father Augustine of Hippo said, “To sing is to pray twice.”
Our lives bear witness more to what we believe than our dictionaries ever could. I am increasingly discovering that Christians’ greatest testimony is the degree of gratitude with which they live. With gratitude, we live fearlessly innovative lives.
PRAYER: Thank you, my Lord, thank you.
MUSIC:
Let’s watch the lyric video of Nuwe Lof and Louis Brittz’s version of “Wye Waters van Sy Liefde.” This was originally written by William Rees and translated into Afrikaans by Neil Büchner. The lyrics will appear on the screen.