In your strength the king rejoices, O Lord, and in your help how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Psalm 21:1-2 NRSV
Can you truly be thankful for the good things in someone else's life? Could you be thankful, say, for the family and leadership blessings of President Obama? Did you ever thank God for something President Bush accomplished or said? (We are not going on party lines when it comes to thankfulness!!)
The psalms are full of thankfulness on behalf of the country and the leader. This is not just about me or my own family. This is national thankfulness. This is thankfulness for what blessings have occurred in the lives of our leadership, despite any hardships you and I may face as followers.
For us as Christians, the best way to grasp this type of thankfulness and live it is to think of our worshipping community. What thanks can we give for our own family of faith? How can we be thankful for the blessings of the church even when our personal lives are falling apart? Or when decisions have been reached that we did not agree with? Can we truly be thankful for, say, our Bishop? Our District Superintendent or other denominational leader?
When we are thankful for what God is doing in our church, then we are capable of looking beyond our walls into the world. And when we do, we will discover so many more thanks for blessings beyond what we could imagine.
God, thank you for all you have done for my worshipping community, my city, state, and country - especially the prayers you have heard and answered to all who lead. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Name one thing you are thankful for in this moment.
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
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