by Robert Fudge

Colossians 1:9-12
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Add to this passage the two following:

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18:
17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 4:6:
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

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The truth that stands out to me in these is that we must be prayerful and thankful. If we want to have peace and joy in our lives, we must devote the time to pray and be thankful. As we pray, we are showing our devotion to God and our trust in Him. This opens our hearts to allow His Spirit to come in and dwell in us. Also in prayer we offer thanksgiving. This shows our dependence on Him.

Being thankful is a key to happiness. The more we dwell on the blessings that God has given us, the less time we have to think about our problems, pain, sorrows, troubles, and even temptations. Take a minute and just list (in your mind is ok) some things for which you should be thankful. The more we list, in specific detail, the more we become aware of other things that we could list. There is the abundance of material things we enjoy. There are the relationships we share: friends, family, and fellow Christians are just a few. There are the freedoms we enjoy by living in this country. There is our health, our jobs, and/or our retirement and the list goes on. If you really want to add to your joy today, after you thank God for someone in particular tell that person how much you appreciate them and what they mean to you. And most of all let us thank God for the spiritual blessing that He gives through His Son, Jesus.

Dear God, thank You for Your love for mankind. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sin. Thank You for my family. Thank You for my health. Thank You for giving us Your word so that we can learn how to be like You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that dwells in me and for the power He gives me to walk in a manner that pleases You. Thank You for His power to help me overcome temptation and sin. Thank You for the joy, peace, and contentment He gives. Thank You for showing me how to love and forgive those around me. O Mighty God, be with me today and fill my heart with joy and peace that only You can give. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.

May God bless you today.