Day 14

When we let the Word of God dwell in us richly, our response is an overflow of thankfulness.

‘So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.’ (COLOSSIANS 2:6-7)

The word thankfulness comes up a lot in the New Testament – and for good reason. Thankfulness is an acknowledgement of dependence on someone. If you’re beside my car when I’m trying to load something heavy into my trunk, I might ask you to help me. If you oblige, I would say, ‘Thank you.’ In doing that I’m acknowledging my dependence on you in that moment.

Thankfulness in the New Testament is acknowledging our dependence on God. We are thanking Him for His sufficiency. Paul says we are to be ‘overflowing with thankfulness,’ (Colossians 2:6). In the next chapter Paul reiterates, ‘And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’ (Colossians 3:17). This is not about thanking God for everything in our lives, whether good or bad, but thanking God for His sufficiency in our lives, no matter what our situation.

The language of trust and dependence on God is not ‘Please,’ but ‘Thank you.’ It is acknowledging that although we are not sufficient in ourselves, we have resources that are completely adequate, as we overflow with thanksgiving. Thank You God!

Spend some time with God today thanking Him for all He is in you.