The Fourth Thing to Do For Jesus

4. “And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15NIV).

Sometimes we erroneously think we have to be thankful for every good and bad thing that comes our way, but this is not true. God is not asking us to be thankful that our dog died or that our daughter wrecked her car, he is asking us to be thankful in all circumstances. No matter what happens to us, we can find something to be thankful for, the biggest being our salvation.

According to a recent article[1] I read, new scientific studies have proven that an attitude of gratitude benefits our well-being in many ways. To name a few, we have more joy, more energy, are more optimistic, and have fewer illnesses. With God, this is not new science at all. He has always known that when his people fill their hearts with gratitude, their souls are restored and lifted to a higher level. I’m reminded of an old song that cheers my heart: “Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings see what God hath done. . .”

[1] Deborah Norville, How the New Science of Thank You Can Change Your Life (Reader’s Digest, October 2007), 147-151.