All Ways of Thanking God Always

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,  and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.” Colossians 1:3-8

Praying prayers of thankfulness might be the most natural way for us to pray. Wherever you are reading this, pause and look around, and find five things you are thankful for. Next, think about the friend who you most recently talked to; what are five things you can thank God for about them?  We have so much to be thankful for in life. But sometimes, our prayers of thankfulness start to get stale. We might feel like we’re praying the same thing over and over again. Like sliding down the same early-season slope, knowing there’s more out there to explore. Colossians 1:3-8, opens our eyes to all ways of thanking God always.

Paul acknowledges that he and Timothy always thank God when they pray for them (Col. 1:3). 

Then Paul points out five ways he is thankful for these friends:

• Having heard of their faith in Jesus and the love they have for all God’s people (1:4)                 
• That faith and love springs up from the hope that comes from hearing the gospel (1:5).           
• The gospel is bearing fruit as people understand God’s grace (1:6).                                                
• The guy who shared the gospel (Epaphras) is a faithful minister of Christ (1:7).                            
• Your love in the Spirit (1:8).                    

These five specific statements of thanksgiving teach five new ways to explore praying prayers of thanksgiving. Take some time to pray for the person or people who have helped you come to know Christ. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving that is specific to them.