Chapter Eleven: Serving With Thankfulness 85
Day 1 Be Thankful to God (Ephesians 5:19-20) What are you thankful for? Stop and make a list of what you are thankful for and see if it is longer than what you first thought of. Is that list more about the things you possess or about rela onships and intangible things? Why? What is the source of the things on your list? Are you sure? How o en do you think of God s involvement in those things? What will it take for you to be thankful to God for everything, but par cularly for those you serve? Most of us find it hard to be thankful when things become difficult or aren t what we would like. O en the problem comes from failing to see God s hand at work even in the midst of our struggles. It is when we begin to speak to one another with a worship of God in our hearts that we find a path to being thankful in all things. When you are thankful to God for the people He has called you to serve, you will find greater joy and sa sfac on in doing so. As you pray, spend me thanking God for who He is in your life. Pray that you would be more aware of all that you ought to be thankful for. Pray that you would not lose sight of the source of all good things in your life. Pray for the courage to thank God for those He has place in your life for you to serve. 86
Day 2 Thankful For Faithful Reputa on (Romans 1:8) Who are some people that have set examples that you choose to follow? Why? How thankful are you for them? If they are s ll living, have you personally thanked them? How does the faithful lives of others encourage you to walk by faith? How much do you think your faith is no ced by people both near and far? Why? How will a reputa on of faith help those you serve see God more clearly? How does living with a thankfulness for the faithful reputa on of others help you to pursue greater faithfulness as you serve? Seeing others stand firm in their faith can be a great encouragement to our walk with the Lord. While it is easy to take such examples for granted, God wants us to be thankful for those who lead with such faith. When we walk and serve by faith, we help even those we may never meet know more about a faithful God. When we serve with a thankfulness for the faithful reputa on of others, we will find that we leave a greater legacy of faith to those we serve. As you pray, ask God to help you be thankful for those who have set an example of faith for you. Pray that you would be one whose faithful reputa on inspires others. Pray that your faith, and thankfulness, would be seen by those you serve. 87
Day 3 Thankful For Changed Lives (Romans 6:17) How much have you changed over the past year? Five years? Life me? Have all of those changes been for good? Why? What has brought about the good changes? How o en do you think about the changes God has done in your life? How o en are you thankful for the changes He makes in the lives of others? How will being thankful for changed lives give you hope as you serve those whose lives have also been changed? Or those who need to be changed? Some mes it can be difficult to believe God can change those we serve un l we begin to take inventory of how much He has changed us. Our thankfulness for the changed lives we have seen and experienced can help those we serve have hope that God can change them as well. When we are thankful for God changing our life, we are encouraged to hold fast to the things of God and not turn back to a former way of life. Our service to others will be more effec ve when we are thankful for the lives God has changed... and will change. As you pray, thank God for giving you the strength and desire to turn from sin and live obediently to the truth. Pray that you would live with the hope of a God who changes lives. Pray that those you serve would also have changed lives. 88
Day 4 Thankful For Grace (1 Corinthians 1:4) What s the greatest gi you have received? Did you deserve it? Are you generally more thankful for good things that you think you deserve or for receiving good things that you know you don t deserve? Why? How thankful are you for God s grace in your life? Why? Are you that thankful for God s grace in the lives of others... or do you find yourself resen ul? Why? How will being thankful for God s grace help you to serve others with greater grace from you? When we begin to think we deserve everything we have, it can be difficult to be thankful for the gi s God has given. God s grace, by defini on, is an unmerited favor. When we realize just how great the gi is, and just how li le we deserve it, we ought to be filled with immense thankfulness for God s grace. Part of the beauty of God s grace is that there is enough for everyone who would accept it. When we realize that, we can begin to serve others out of the grace God has given us and with the grace He desires we extend to them. As you pray, thank God for extending His grace not only to you, but to all who would receive it. Pray that you would serve others with grace because of the grace you have been given. Pray that you would freely give, just as you have received. 89
Day 5 Thankful For Real Victory (1 Corinthians 15:57) Do you like to win? Are there mes when victory is more appreciated than others? Why? Do you celebrate the victories of others as much as your own? Why? How does celebra ng a victory with others make you feel? Why? Have you ever celebrated what you thought was victory only to find out later that the results of the victory wasn t what you expected? How did you feel? How does being thankful for a real victory in Christ help you as you serve others? Most people like to win and even enjoy celebra ng their victories no ma er how long or short lived those victories may be. The problem, however, is that winning by the world s standards usually means there is a loser as well. But the real victory we have in Christ is a victory that everyone can have and be thankful for. When we serve with thankfulness, we can celebrate real victory because we know that those we serve can claim that same victory in Christ. As you pray, ask God to help you know the value of the true victory you have in Christ. Pray that you would always be thankful for the victory God has given you over sin and death. Pray that your thankfulness would help those you serve come to know a true victory that can be theirs as well. 90
Day 6 Thankful For a Shared Concern (2 Corinthians 8:16) Has it ever seemed like you were the only one who cared about something that was important to you? How did it make you feel? What effect does it have on you when you find someone who shares the same concerns that you have? Why? When God places a concern for someone, or something, on your heart, how o en do you look for others that He has given the same concern to? Why? When serving others brings you into contact with people who share your concern for those you serve, how thankful are you? Why? Let s face it, serving can o en seem like a lonely and thankless task. In fact, many people give up doing the things they once felt strongly about simply because they become convinced they are the only one that cares. We can serve with thankfulness when we take the me to look for, and recognize, the people that God has given the same concern that we have for others. Even when our concern may be expressed differently, God s desire is that all of us care for one another. As you pray, ask God to help you see that you are never really alone. Pray that you would be thankful that others share your concern for the people you serve. Pray that you would be filled with a concern that others also have. 91
Day 7 Thankful For Generous Giving (2 Corinthians 9:12) How much do you rely on others? Are you sure? Are you more thankful for generosity you receive or that you give? Why? Does the generosity of others help you serve more effec vely? How? How does experiencing the generosity of others make you feel? Why? Are there different ways to be generous? What would the right way look like? Explain. When you serve others with generosity, who is more thankful, you or them? Why? Who should receive the most thanks when the needs of those you serve are being met? Why? Many people make a valiant a empt to do life on their own, but it usually doesn t take long before we discover that we need help. While some people struggle to learn and prac ce generosity, others have an equally difficult me accep ng generous help when it is needed. Serving people effec vely generally means that we must do both. We obviously must learn to be generous with those we serve, but doing so o en requires that we accept the generous help of others. God uses this partnership of generosity create many expressions of praise to Himself from those we serve. As you pray, ask God to help you give and receive generously. Pray that God would be praised by the way you serve. 92