LOOK FOR A REASON
Are you thankful for the people God has put in your life? It’s so easy to take for granted the ones we love the most. And we rarely tell them how important they are to us.
In this lesson, we are focusing on a few verses in the letters Paul wrote to the churches. Notice a common theme in his opening greetings.
Read the following verses in two or more versions of the Bible, and list the reasons Paul thanked God in his prayers for these people. (Check out the Amplified Bible if you have it available).
1) Romans 1:8
2) 1 Corinthians 1:4-6
3) Philippians 1:3-6
4) Colossians 1:3-4
5) 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
Now…let’s look for a reason to be thankful for specific people in our lives. Think of five friends or family members who are dear to you. Thank God for them individually, expressing why you are thankful for each one. Pray about telling them what makes you grateful for them. Then share with us how Paul’s example has inspired you.
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Paul was thankful to GOD and the Father – faith which was spoken – he prayed for each one – Paul thanked GOD for each one – for their fellowship in the Gospel – love to all saints – I love this verse – Remembering without ceasing – their faith – their labor of love – their patience of hope – their love of GOD. I have many friends which I do not see every day or talk to and always remember them in prayers – they are a blessing in my life – I am so thankful for my daughters Christi and Trina – my son in law Rick – my grandson – Brandon – I also have some adopted daughters which I pray for each day and thank the LORD for them – I could just go on and on about being THANKFUL for close family and friends – but I do believe I have listed more than 5 – it is hard to stop – many people have blessed my life along the way – I am in a prayer group of people whom I do not know – but yet we pray for each prayer request we are given – it is so important to PRAY each and when it is the hardest to pray – GOD loves our prayers and fellowship with him – through BIBLE reading/studying and being on our knees unto him – I could go on and on about everything I am THANKFUL for in my life – but GOD knows – while waking up each morning – I just say Thank you unto the LORD before my day starts. Thanks – Karen – this really has me thanking about things people have done for me in my life.
LOVE THIS BIBLE STUDY.
I’m thankful for you, Odella! Your comments are always uplifting and encouraging. Love the way you love others with the love of Jesus. It is the fruit of the Spirit in your life. A grateful heart has made a difference for you and your family.Your positive attitude is contagious. Thanks for sharing and being part of this study.
Thank you for this post Karen. This topic has actually been on my heart a lot lately. I am at the age that everyone is starting new journeys in life, including me, which makes it difficult to stay in touch as we once had. The words from Paul are an important reminder to thank God for those He has put in our lives, and thanking Him for the unique gifts each person brings. God wants us to lift others up through Him. What better way can we do that than by telling those special people why we are thankful for them? It might be that bright spot in their day!
Shanea, I’m so glad you joined us. You spoke great wisdom acknowledging that God puts certain people in our lives for a reason. They do bring unique gifts which are often just what we need at the right time. God is sovereign over these relationships, as we also are in their lives for a reason. I’m so glad you recognize this and want to tell those special people why you are thankful for them. What an encouragement that will be to them! Thank you for sharing your insight.
Im reading The Message & i love in
Oops! Doing this on my phone. In Thessalonians, i read past 1-3, & i love 4-5: “it is clear that God not only loves you very much but also has put His hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasnt just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.” LOVE that!! The main thing that stuck out to me in these scriptures was that they were all giving thanks because the person had continued to grow in Christ & give evidence of His truth. It was active in their lives…not just empty words. I have often felt so incredibly thankful & in awe when i look back over my spiritual life and can so clearly see the different people God aligned for me thruout my life, beginning with my Godly heritage of Christian parents. I can clearly remember resisting as a teen & being very bored with it all. but the foundation was there…& later after i became a mom, those seeds began to be watered & rooted, & fertilized by new Godly women that were showing up in my life. I would NOT be where i am now had it not been pre-ordained by God! I hope i can do the same for other ppl.
I know people have played and will continue to play an essential role in the development of my faith. Taking a cue from Paul’s letters I need to develop a habit of giving thanks for these people. I don’t think I do that as often as I should.