BTW, Be Thankful

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

─ Colossians 3:15 NKJV

God created you to live a peaceful life, and the fact that you live in a fallen world doesn’t have to keep you from His peace. It’s a choice. The decision to allow God to rule in your life, doesn’t negate your responsibility to be an active participant.

The Apostle Paul offers some much-needed wisdom in this. He says, Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful (Colossians 3:15 NKJV). Note two important items in that verse. One is to find peace. You have to allow or choose the peace of God to rule in your life. The pursuit of peace must be given precedence.

When we allow Him to rule in our lives, that is where peace comes.  But then, almost like an afterthought, He said … and by the way, be thankful.

We have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes it takes a trip out of the country to realize all the things you might take for granted – indoor plumbing, clean water safe to drink, a place to work, being able to go to a grocery store without having to go through security. After a season of sheltering in place, practicing social distancing and self-quarantining, we will probably be thankful to be able to gather with family, or worship together in a church building.

Our heart changes when we express gratitude to God for the many blessings He’s provided.

Today’s One Thing

Every day, take time to write a list out on a sheet of paper and say to the Lord, “Here are five things I am thankful for today.”

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