Good morning, happy Monday, and happy Thanksgiving!
“For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
-Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:11b-13, circa 62 AD
I had the amazing experience of visiting Rome earlier this year. One of my highest priority spots to visit was the Mamertine Prison, the jail cell where Paul & Peter from the Bible were imprisoned before their eventual execution. See photo below.
It was a small, dark, underground cell with a hole in the roof that led to the outside world. That hole is where the prisoner’s friends or family would drop food for them to eat.
It is in this very prison cell that Paul likely pens the powerhouse words of thanksgiving in the fourth chapter of Philippians in the Bible:
- Verse 4: “Rejoyce in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoyce!”
- Verse 6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
- Verse 7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- Verse 13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
- Verse 19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
- Verse 20: “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but if I was locked in a dirty, underground prison cell while awaiting an illegal trial for doing nothing wrong then thanksgiving would probably not be the first thing on my mind! I would likely be complaining about my treatment, the injustice of the system, the poor conditions, on and on I could go … my list of complains would be very long.
Yet these passages listed above, which are frequently referenced for their valuable insight and inspiration, were written by a man imprisoned in deplorable conditions. In fact, he would be executed a few short years after writing these words.
Talk about a sobering perspective! I have a lot to learn about thankfulness.
It seems that most of us are constantly battling the war in our minds that we are not enough … not rich enough, not powerful enough, not pretty enough, not strong enough … fill in the blank and the world will gladly tell us we are not enough.
In our pockets we have cell phones that have more power than rooms full of computers did when we landed on the moon. Yet, we complain they are not fast enough.
The medical advances we have today are staggering compared to what they were just a generation ago, and yet we constantly complain about our healthcare system.
A good majority of us have plenty of family drama that gives us heartburn, but how much time do we spend praising our family members vs. being critical of them?
My friends, I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that our default settings are so often to complain instead of giving thanks. To focus on what we don’t have instead of the blessings right in front of us. To give our attention to what we are missing instead of what we are blessed with.
I think this is human nature at some level, but this is where Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday because it gives us an opportunity reset and to count our blessings … to focus our attention on the good in the world and in our lives.
My encouragement and challenge for all of us this Thanksgiving is to live life more gratefully. Say “thank you” more often. Write a note of encouragement to someone who has impacted your life. Give a hug to the ones you love. Focus on the joy instead of the pain.
When we find our thoughts going negative, complaining, and comparing, take a time out and gather our thoughts to choose to have an attitude of gratitude.
I believe our own lives and the lives of those around us will all be better if we take this approach.
Thanks for listening to my sermon. 😉
I pray that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving week! I am so grateful for you and your contribution to my life. THANK YOU!