SPILLING OVER 

 

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,
and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
to show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,
and thy faithfulness every night”
(Psalm 92:1-2). See also Psalm 54:6 and 147:1

 

I was reading through Paul’s letters recently and noticed again how frequently he encourages us to be thankful—thankful to God, for our circumstances no matter how difficult, and for those around us. In just four chapters, he reminds the Colossian believers six times to be thankful. He’s not satisfied with reminding them to be thankful. He encourages them to be “overflowing with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7).

 

What does it mean to overflow? The word is perisseuo and means “to super-abound, be in excess, exceed, enough and to spare, over and above.” In other words, you are “over the top” with thankfulness. Your lips are always spilling over in thankfulness to God. You thank Him when things are going good. And yes, you thank Him when things are tough. Because your heart is constantly in an attitude of gratitude to God, this attitude spills out on to all around you—your husband and your children.

 

You are always grateful to your husband. You don’t take him for granted. You thank him when he helps you with the dishes or putting the children to bed. You thank him for taking out the trash. And even if he doesn’t, and you have to do it yourself, you thank him for being the best husband in the world. You thank him for choosing you to be his wife. You are “over the top” in thanking him. Can you imagine what this will do to your relationship?

 

And don’t forget to thank your children. It is easy to get into a habit of constantly telling them what to do, but how many times do you thank them when they obey you? Thank them when they help you. Thank them when they are polite. Thank them for the joy they give you. Can you imagine what your constant thankfulness will do to their attitude?

 

Perhaps you could have a THANKFUL MEAL this evening as you sit around your supper table. Here are a few ideas for you:

 

THANKFULNESS TO GOD

As you enjoy your meal together, go around the table, giving each one a turn to share two or three things for which they are thankful to God. Make your Prayer Time a thanksgiving time where each one can thank the Lord for the things they shared.

 

THANKFULNESS FOR ONE ANOTHER

 

1. Both you and your husband can share a couple of things for which you are thankful for each one of your children. Or…

 

1. As you go around the table, get each child to share something for which they are thankful for the one who is sitting next to them. Or…

 

1. Make NAME PLACES for each one at the table. Type their name and comment on the computer, print it off on colored paper and then paste in on a folded cardboard that can stand on its own. Or you can write it on the card. Here are some ideas:

 

YOUR HUSBAND’S NAME

Thank you for being my loving and faithful husband!

 

JOSHUA

Thank you for being such an obedient son!

 

BRENDA

Thank you for doing your chores with all your might!

 

Let’s look at the other admonitions to be thankful in Colossians…

 

Colossians 1:12 NLT “Always thanking the Father.” The context of this passage is that God strengthens us with His power to enable us to have patience, longsuffering with joyfulness, and to continually give thanks!

 

Colossians 3:15 Way, “Be ye all thankfulness.” This is a picture of oozing with thankfulness. Every time you open your mouth, you are either thanking God or someone round you in your home.

 

Colossians 3:16 NASB, “Singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” This is a picture of constant thankfulness to God, no matter what is happening in your home.

 

Colossians 3:17 NASB, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” This is a picture of doing everything and saying everything with thankfulness. Can we get into this habit? It won’t just happen. We have to make it happen!

 

Colossians 4:2 Way, “Let your prayers be characterized by intense earnestness—with thanksgiving.” Even our prayers should be filled with thanksgiving.

 

May you have an exciting “spilling over” day, continually thanking God and everyone around you—especially your husband and precious children.

 

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

 

 

PRAYER:

 

“Father, I ask that you will help me to not only be thankful, but full of thankfulness. Please help me to have a daily attitude of gratitude toward my husband and my children. Amen.”

 

AFFIRMATION:

 

No more sighs and moaning around here,

I’m putting my thankful heart into gear!

 

 

SCRIPTURES TO LOOK UP ABOUT THANKFULNESS:

 

THANKFULNESS TO THE LORD

 

Psalm 18:49; 26:7; 30:4, 12; 34:1; 35:18; 50:14; 69:30; 75:1; 79:13; 92:1-2; 97:12; 100:4; 105:1; 106:1, 47; 107:1, 21-22; 116:17; 118:1; 119:29, 62; 122:4; 136: 1-3; 26; 140:13; 147:7; Isaiah 51:3; Jeremiah 30:19; 1 Corinthians 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 9:11-12, 15.

 

EXAMPLES OF THANKFULNESS TO THE LORD

 

David                       2 Samuel 22:50; 1 Chronicles 16:8-10, 34-35.
Solomon                  1 Chronicles 29:13; 2 Chronicles 5:13.
Levites                     Ezra 3:11; Nehemiah 11:17; 12: 8, 24, 27, 31, 38, 40, 46.
Daniel                      Daniel 2:29; 3:10.
Jonah                       Jonah 2:9.
Jesus                        Matthew 11:25; 15:32-39; 26:26-27; John 6:9-13.
Anna                        Luke 2:36-38.
The leper                  Luke 17:16.
Paul                          Acts 27:35; 28:15; Romans 7:25; 1 Timothy 1:12; 1 Corinthians 14:18.
The Living Beings       Revelation 4:9.
The 24 Elders            Revelation 11:16-17.
The Angels                Revelation 7:12.

 

THANKFULNESS FOR OTHERS

 

Romans 1:8; 16:4; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 8:16; Ephesians 1;16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1;3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2:13; 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 4.

 

THANKFULNESS IN EVERY DAY LIFE

 

Leviticus 22:29; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 5:4, 20; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 1:12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 13:15.

 

THE PRINCIPLE OF THANKING THE LORD EVERY MORNING AND EVENING

 

1 Chronicles 16:4, 39 – 42; 23:30; 25:3; 2 Chronicles 31:2.