Daily Devotional for June 22, 2013

Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 

In his book, A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life, author John Kralik describes how his life was tumbling in a free-fall of despair and destitution.  He was losing clients in his law practice – and those he had were not paying their bills.  His relationships were falling apart.  He had unhealthy habits – and poor physical health as a result.  While walking one evening, Kralik was struck by the thought, “What if I focused on the things in my life for which I am thankful… and grateful?  What if I concentrated on the things I have instead of what I lack?”
 
To say this was a “game changer” for Kralik would be putting it mildly.  He began to find at least one person per day to thank.  Some days, it was easy…a friend did something nice for him, and he wrote a little note of thanks.  Other days, finding something – or someone – to whom he could express gratitude was a little harder.  He began to really stretch… to thank clients for their business- even when they had not paid their bill.  He began to leave notes with the barrista at the coffee house and the cashiers at stores where he shopped.  He thanked old college professors for that extra little bit of encouragement offered to him… and his doctor for suggesting he stop smoking and drop a few pounds!  After several weeks of writing thank-you notes, Kralik vowed to continue this for an entire year.  He actually wrote notes of gratitude every day for the next two years or better!
 
John Kralik discovered something amazing.  His life turned around in countless ways.  His health and physical well-being improved… his relationships with family, friends, and business associates got better… he got back on his feet financially.  But more importantly, Kralik found a peace like he had never experienced.
 
I am not saying that we should start writing a thank-you note to someone every day…although I believe such a project could be life-changing.  I am suggesting that we look at Colossians 3:15-17 and integrate some of Paul’s admonitions into our daily living.  We could all cultivate a little more thankfulness.  We could give the message of Jesus Christ more room in our lives… we could do a better job of loving Christ with our whole heart and loving others as He loves us.  We could concentrate more on being grateful for God’s gifts and less on complaining about what we lack or what troubles or irritates us.
 
I know more than one person who keeps a “gratitude journal.”  Each day, they write down at least one thing for which they are grateful.  I have noticed that these people seem to be a little more positive and cheerful than most folks.  For many of us, practicing gratitude and a positive outlook are habits that we have let lapse.  The exercise of writing down things for which we are thankful could help us get back on track.  If you want to take it a step further and send someone a note every day to express thanks or gratitude… go for it!
 
I happen to like hand-written notes.  They show an added effort to take pen to paper, find a stamp, and deliver (or mail) the message.  But you don’t have to hand-write a note for this to work. I know one person who messages one “friend” per day on Facebook to tell him/her why she is glad this person is in her life.  Wouldn’t you like to get an e-mail message or a text from someone who says, “I’m grateful for you.  Thank you for XYZ”?
 
The point is that by making a concerted effort to be more thankful or grateful… to share the message of Christ in our daily living and “sing your heart out for God” - your own heart changes.  You lose the garbage and the baggage…and gain peace and joy.  You live more fully in Jesus.  Isn’t that what we’re after?
 
What are you waiting for?  Think about who should receive your first message of gratitude and/or thanks.  Start with Jesus!  Keep a list of the people you thank… and look at it from time to time to see just how blessed you truly are.  And thank YOU for reading these daily devotionals and sharing your love of Christ with me in this manner.  I pray that you are truly blessed by His word and the insights I offer… and I am grateful for you and your friendship.  Now go thank somebody in Jesus’ name… and bless their socks off (and yours) in the bargain!
 
©2013 Debbie Robus