I Thank My God for You

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your [c]participation in the gospel from the first day until now. Phil.1:3-5

As children it was instilled in most of us that we should be thankful. I am sure that your parents, as mine did, told you to be thankful for what and who you have in your life. It is easy to look around and see people who seemingly enjoy more of the "better" things of life. Maybe they possess better health, stronger financial benefits, and a better income situation. Maybe their family life is better, or, so it seems.

But my parents reminded me that things are not always as they seem. People may indeed have their "act" together outwardly and on the surface. But many people make it a point to not reveal all that is actually happening behind the scenes.

When I was a pastor it seemed that most of my counseling sessions involved people who put on a good front. No one would have concluded, from outward appearances, that these individuals would have the first care. But many of them did. Some did to a degree that surprised even me. 

My point is simple. Be thankful for YOUR life and circumstances. Be thankful for the people God has brought into your life. Never wish you were someone else or that you could change places with them. I would have never dreamed that comedian Robin Williams would have had any issues. He had it all or so it seemed. 

In the passage cited above Paul makes a statement of thanksgiving for some special people God had brought into his life. He says that he thanks God for them and joyously mentions them in his prayers. Why? Because they proved themselves faithful and true in a joint effort with him. They worked with him to carry out the gospel message. 

If you look around and really consider it closely, I am sure that you will realize that God has brought some special people as blessings into your life. Obviously we all have some people and circumstances that are not "blessings." But even so, God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). 

Take today and consider the blessings of the people that God has brought into your life. 

Say out loud, "I thank my God for them!"

You will find a sense of peace after you do.

Blessings, 

Tony Guthrie
tuthrie1961@yahoo.com

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