And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15ESV

     We are  living in a time where there seems to be much turmoil and stress. Perhaps this is not different from other times in history. There is turmoil and stressing every historic age. Nothing is new under the sun. I believe everything has a cause and effect. What we focus upon will affect our mental, and in some cases, our physical health. As Christians we have been given instructions as to how we are too live each day, and the Bible is full of such instructions. Is is one thing to know about such teachings and it is another to live these teachings. One place to live the teachings of the Bible is in the area of thankfulness. So let me ask a question, “What are you thankful for?” Many of us would say we are thankful for heath, food, our home, family, and on and on the list could go. What if the first thing that came from your lips when asked what you are thankful for was…….Jesus. All the afore mentioned things for which you said you were thankful can be lost but not Jesus. Don’t misunderstand; I believe we should be thankful for all those, but Jesus should be the focus of our thankfulness. So how do we make Jesus the center of our focus and thankfulness?

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly: Colossians 3:16a ESV
     There has always been a collation of living in victory by hiding and honoring God’s word in your heart. (Psalm 119:9-11 … 119:105 … Luke 6:47-48) This is not a casual reading of the word; this is writing it upon your heart with intention. It is daily looking to it for strength, it is seeking direction in living in harmony, and it is living obediently the teachings of Jesus. It is walking in the grace of Jesus as He teaches us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We will stumble and fall, but we don’t have to stay down because, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1John 4:4 ESV

Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual song with thanksgiving: Colossians 3:16b ESV
     What do you sing? When all that God has done through Jesus and Holy Spirit is your focus, you will sing willingly with an outpouring of gratitude in song. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6 ESV….. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Psalm 105:2 ESV….. You can sing in every situation of life – good, bad, or indifferent because the goodness of God never changes. Paul and Silas gave us a great testimony of this fact. After being beaten, put in jail, and chained, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them Acts 16:25 ESV Read the following verses and see the effect it had on this situation and those around them.

 

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 ESV
     As Christians we need to be intentional in our walk with God, not casual.  In him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28 ESV  We need intentional Bible study time, prayer time, market place time, rest time…. all the time living on purpose for Jesus. If we live more this way, we will be thankful for the joy that comes from serving and living in His will everyday.

The peace we have is not our own; its “the peace of Christ”  It is as a quote I once read…. “Know Jesus – Know Peace …. No Jesus – No Peace.” So let us as Christinas live on purpose for God, And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 ESV

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David