Thank God and People Too - The Crosswalk Devotional - November 4

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Thank God and People Too
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” – Philippians 1:3, NIV

I visited my high school journalism teacher, Margo Tyree, years after high school – when I was working as a professional newspaper reporter. God had worked through Mrs. Tyree to show me my career path. Not only that, but Mrs. Tyree encouraged me to overcome my shyness and grow to become more courageous and confident. She also taught me important journalism practices and inspired me to do my very best work. So, I returned to my old classroom to thank her and speak to her class about what it was like to work as a journalist. I also thanked God that day (and many other days) for bringing such a caring teacher into my life.

God is the ultimate source of everything good in the universe. Every single act of love begins with God. When a friend is kind to you, for example, that kindness is ultimately a reflection of God’s love reaching out to you. Recognizing God at work in those experiences helps you remember where your blessings come from.

Most of the time, God chooses to work through his people. God’s love flows through people’s lives, inspiring them to help, listen, or share when other people need something. When people step up to care for you because of love, they’re serving because it was God who led them to do so. Wherever real love is in action, God is the reason, because God is the source of all love.

Because God works through people to bless us, it’s very important that we don’t stop at thanking God alone. We should also thank those people, too! It’s easy to assume people know we appreciate them, but even if they do, we can bless them powerfully by writing or speaking words of gratitude to them. Putting gratitude into action matters.

In Philippians 1:3, the Apostle Paul shows us how to put gratitude into action well. He was sitting in a dark, lonely prison cell. But when he thought of his friends in the church at Philippi, he felt grateful. Paul made sure to tell his friends directly: “I thank my God every time I remember you.” He said he was so thankful for them that every single time he remembered them, he thanked God for letting them be part of his life.

Think about how much good it does when you thank someone. When you let someone know you appreciate their kindness, you give them a wonderful gift. You encourage them to keep doing good things to shine God’s light into the darkness of this fallen world, where lots of people don’t feel appreciated. Many people around you work quietly every single day without knowing if anyone actually cares about the good work they’re trying to do. They might feel tired and discouraged. When you thank them for the positive difference they’ve made in your life, you can remind them that their efforts are truly seen and valued.

Expressing gratitude also changes you. When you make a habit of looking for things to thank people for, you’ll then start noticing the wonder of God’s work in your life instead of focusing on your problems and stress. Gratitude can turn your ordinary relationships into close, lasting friendships built on love and trust.

Today, look around at the people God has placed in your life. Thank God for sending them to walk beside you, and then take the next step: go tell those people how much they mean to you. Send a text, write a short note, give them a call, or visit them in person to thank them for who they are and for what you appreciate about what they’ve done. By thanking God and thanking people too, you can help God’s love flow through your life and into other people’s lives!

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider why it’s important to thank God for the kind people in your life and to thank those people too, reflect on these questions:

• Who is one person in your life that God has used to encourage or help you recently? 
• Why do you sometimes forget to say “thank you” to the people who help you every day? 
• How does it make you feel inside when someone takes the time to thank you for something kind you did? 
• What are some simple, creative ways you can express gratitude to your family, friends, or coworkers this week? 
• How does praying for the people who help you change the way you appreciate them?

Further Reading:
Philemon 1:4
Ephesians 1:16
Romans 1:8
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Colossians 3:15

Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PeopleImages 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Listen to The Love Offering!

Encouraging you to love God, others, and yourself—one faithful step at a time.

Each week, host Rachael Adams sits down with inspiring women who are making a difference right where they are. Through honest conversations, biblical wisdom, and real-life stories, you'll be reminded that your everyday acts of love—no matter how small—matter deeply to God.

You were created to live a life of impact.
You were made to be a love offering.