Joy — Philippians 1 – Tuesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Philippians 1:3-4
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy. (ESV)
Two weeks ago, I had an interesting day. Several things happened that day, but the first took place on my way to work. I was sitting in my truck at a light on Harrodsburg Road. I had my window rolled down, and I was enjoying the nice weather during my morning commute. At that moment, a garbage truck came flying down the turn lane to my left, obliterated my driver's side mirror, and kept going. (I’m going to give the driver the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t realize he hit my truck.) But my arm was resting on the open window.
In the moments immediately after the collision, I made sure that truck driver knew exactly what I thought of his driving. There was no emotion I didn’t express loudly and thoroughly. Ironically, that was the moment I could have taken out my phone and snapped a picture of the truck’s ID number, which didn’t occur to me until after the truck was long gone.
Rarely do I ever have a problem with expressing my anger. (OK, maybe it’s a problem… but I don’t have a problem with actually expressing it.) But I too often have problems with expressing my gratitude.
Now don’t hear what I’m not saying. I think in general, I’m a pretty grateful person in my heart. I have feelings of gratitude daily (often multiple times a day). My problem comes with the expressions of that gratitude. Quite often, those feelings of gratitude start and end in my heart and mind. I simply don’t think to thank people. I am super grateful for my wife and how she serves our family… but I don’t express that gratitude enough. I am super thankful for my future son-in-law for the way he spiritually leads my daughter… but I don’t tell him that often enough. I’m grateful for my team at church and the way they serve adults and kids with disabilities. But I only think to thank them after big events like Jesus Prom.
It’s the same with God. I am ridiculously grateful for His love and sacrifice. I’m thankful for the daily moments He shows up and proves that love. I’m thankful for all the blessings in my life that are not deserved in the least. And although I am daily trying to put that gratitude into action, I have a lot of growing to do. (Maybe one day I’ll become as expressive with my gratitude as I was with my frustration toward that garbage truck.)
APPLICATION
What are you grateful for today? Write 3-5 things down. Don’t let that gratitude die on your journal page. Express your gratitude to God for those things. And if anyone in your life needs to hear your gratitude towards them, reach out to them today.
PRAYER
Father, thank You for the countless ways You show Your love and goodness in my life each day. Help me not only to feel gratitude in my heart, but to express it to You and to the people around me. Teach me to notice and encourage those who bless my life, and let my words reflect a thankful heart. Amen.