Thanksgiving in Tough Times #11

It's interesting that when Paul wrote his letters to the churches, he usually began by giving thanks for these people, even though he was probably going to correct some error in their faith or practice, Like Ephesians 1: 

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him... 

As many of you know, what follows is a long run-on sentence of everything Paul was praying for this church.  Despite the various problems and issues these churches may have had, Paul always sought something for which to be thankful about them. What happens when we do that? We pray for people, and for situations about which God is also concerned. When we give thanks for some way God has blessed us, we end up talking with Him about ways we and others can experience more of His blessings. Even as Paul wrote to churches that were being challenged by persecution, personality struggles, and other problems, or his own suffering and disappointments, he found ways and reasons to give God thanks and see His hand. This made all the difference in the faith and hope he had in what God could and would do. The same is true for us: if we will incorporate thanksgiving in our thoughts, words and actions, we will see not only what God has done, but what He is doing, and the answers to prayer He will give in the future. Look for ways to thank God today.