For most of us, our lives are usually busy and cluttered with many things such as work, family, sporting events, hobbies, visiting friends, and other events. Because of this busyness, we can easily become spiritually complacent, prayerless, Word-neglecting, irritable, lazy, and just downright unthankful. So, let me encourage you today with the virtue of thankfulness. Living thankfully towards God is the way to overthrow a prayerless, Word-neglecting, irritable, lazy, and unthankful life as we live in this difficult world.
Thankfulness is a virtue that should characterize every believer since it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We read in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Did you notice those words? “In EVERYTHING give thanks.” We receive so much from the hand of the Lord, and we deserve none of it. Wonderful sunshine, nourishing rain, plenteous food, quenching drink, family, friends, income, health, abundant material possessions, not to mention eternal life, the imputed righteousness of Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Word of God, true faith, the removal of guilt and the consequences of our wretched sins, and a multitude of other wondrous benefits, which we cannot count, that we have receive from the hand of the Lord. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3).
And still, so often, we are unthankful people. We murmur and complain about this and that, but Hebrews 13:5 says, “Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Dear ones, God is with us! Let that soak in. I say again, God is with us! Make this your constant focus and your heart cannot help but be thankful to the Lord, and prayerful, and Word-indulging, and praise-singing. Thankfulness! What a virtue!
Tuesday Encouragement: September 8, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
