We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Colossians 1:3 NKJV
Thanks to God is the first clue that our thoughts on fixed on Him. Are we giving thanks to God at every turn? See what Paul says about giving thanks in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Being thankful is God's will for us, so in everything let us give thanks. Before I came to Christ, my thoughts were not very positive and I found it difficult to give thanks readily. Now, being a new creation in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ) it's much easier giving thanks. Sometimes, I wake up in the morning with thankfulness and praise to God on my mind. How wonderful it is! Prayer is the next clue that your relationship with God is flourishing. Paul mentions he is always praying for the Colossians. How often are you in prayer, once a day or throughout the day? Here's the key -- pray always. The psalmist knew it in Psalm 55:17 "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice." If Jonah could pray from the belly of a fish in Jonah 2:1 "Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly." Then we can certainly pray in whatever condition we find ourselves. Even when we don't know what to pray the Holy Spirit in us helps us for in Romans 8:26 is says "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Where can you start being thankful today?
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