Passage of the Day:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone, Colossians 4:2-6.
Reflection:
For some strange reason, when I’m at my current job, I tend to dwell on all the negative aspects. Meanwhile, when I reflect upon previous positions which I despised at the time, things were much better than I thought. Rather than pursue a heart of thanksgiving, I found myself thinking the grass was greener at other companies. The apostle Paul reminds the Church at Colosse of what’s really important, celebrating the mystery of Christ. Those believers who boldly proclaim the good news about Jesus Christ develop hearts full of thanksgiving.
Prayerful Action:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7.
Restoring Your Heart:
Thankfulness is a byproduct of experiencing the peace of God. Rather than become overwhelmed by stressful events that crash into your life like relentless ocean waves, the peace of God transcends your perspective about life. Subsequently, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, Matthew 6:33, will reach a point where you believe without a doubt that God will take care of your needs. May the peace of God guard your heart and mind this month and throughout 2024.
Song of the Day:
According to the apostle Paul, a heart of thanksgiving is like a special seasoning to add flavor and spice to the lives of people that you come in contact with in 2024. May the Holy Spirit use your heart of thanksgiving to impact your friends, family and peers.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 