“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.
This command by Paul in Colossians has been on my mind a lot lately. It is interesting to me that Paul doesn’t say to live your life rooted in Christ, and then you will be thankful. He states to live our lives in him, and ALSO to overflow with thankfulness. Thankfulness is not something that happens as a result of something else, it is a choice and a command. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 states, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Another command! So even though thankfulness can come hard to two, somewhat recovering, perfectionists, we take thankfulness very seriously in our household and in our church gatherings.
One way I have seen us grow in thankfulness is through my girls. Every year we make “thankful turkeys”, where the girls pick one thing they are thankful for each day and write it on a feather to put on their turkey. Their responses are sweet, and sometimes pretty funny. There was one year where I was famously beat on the turkey by grass, doors, and muffins. This year, the concept of finding something they were thankful for was so natural and easy to them. I believe this is because of our weekly gathering where around the table we share where we’ve seen God, or something we are thankful to God for. Thankfulness is becoming part of their vocabulary, and part of the natural rhythm of who they are. And what is equally amazing to me is how thankfulness is contagious! When we are around others who are thankful, it helps us remember God’s goodness in our lives too, and edifies us in the faith.
Living a Quiet Life
I think one way we can battle our consumeristic culture and regain hearts of gratitude is through intentionally living a simple and quiet life. In 1 Thessalonians 4 it says to “make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before”. This command for a simple life has been something God has been challenging our Missional Community in, collectively and individually. We are reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer together, and seeking what that looks like in our own lives. For me it has been eliminating social media and stopping shopping during Advent, others have started a weekly Sabbath as a family, while someone else has stopped playing TV during the day as background noise. As God has lead us to take these steps toward quiet and simplicity, radical heart change has been happening! We have heard testimony of someone being able to finally hear God speak clearly, a family with more peace from their Sabbath that they are able to carry into the week, and others the growing desire for more of Jesus. It is amazing what just making more room for Jesus to speak and move in our lives can do.
Prayer Points
We have always believed in the power of prayer, but believe in it even more so now that we are on the front lines in ministry! THANK YOU to our prayer warriors who intercede for us and cover us with prayer!
- Please pray for God to cover us and the members of our church in his protection and healing from sickness so we can all meet together!
- Praising God for the hunger he is giving each member of his community, and pray that he continues to fan that into flame.
- Please continue to pray for Anthony and I, Lucy and Emmie, as we lead God’s ministry in St. Louis. Pray for us to grow in knowledge and wisdom, and have our strength rooted in the Lord.
- Praising God for improvement in Kylie’s pain. Anthony and I have to change insurance plans again next year, so please pray for God to lead us to the right doctors as we have to change because of our new plan.
From the Watts Family Update Nov 2022: Kylie, with her husband Anthony and children Lucy and Emmie, are church planting in St Louis, Missouri, using Inspire principles and practices.
