March 22 2026

Sunday March 22

Thankful for You

Philippians 1:3

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

Today we are continuing our verse-by-verse study through the book of Philippians, and we are down to verse 3, where the Apostle Paul writes to the church of Philippi, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” What a statement. It’s a very small verse, but it says so much.

When Paul thought about the believers in Philippi, his heart was filled with gratitude. Think about that for a moment. How often do we think about people and immediately feel grateful and thankful? Too often, our thoughts go in the opposite direction. We remember disagreements, frustrations, disappointment, hurt, and pain—people stabbing us in the back, if we are not careful. But when Paul remembered the church at Philippi, he remembered people with gratitude. Why? I am convinced it is because he looked at them through the lens of God’s work in their lives.

So often, as we minister in the name of Jesus to people around us, the devil will attack us with the smallest things. We can literally conquer mountains, yet stumble over molehills. There is a tremendous temptation to dwell on the hurts and the pains rather than on what God has done—even in the past.

As you read about the people of Israel in Egypt, you’ll remember that God, by His mighty and awesome power, delivered them. He delivered them as they crossed the Red Sea, with the armies of Pharaoh destroyed behind them. But no sooner had they entered the wilderness than they lacked a few things they thought they had to have. They did not believe. They did not trust God. They were not thankful. They forgot God and His mercies. Immediately, they began to complain and murmur and backbite, speaking against their leaders and saying, “Why did you do this to us?”

My friend, if we are not careful, we will look at the world—and at people—through our own lens of pain and hurt, rather than remembering how God has wonderfully used people to help us, such as Moses and Aaron in the case of Israel. God uses people in our lives, and we need to be thankful. Gratitude changes how we see people. Instead of focusing on flaws, we begin to notice God’s grace at work. Instead of remembering offenses, we remember blessings. Today, try something simple. Think about someone in your life who has encouraged your faith. Maybe a pastor, a friend, a parent, or a believer who prayed for you. Now thank God for them.

I often think back to February 21, 1971, when Dr. Harold Rawlings allowed me to come to his house on a Sunday afternoon. He sat down with me and prayed with me, and I left his house that day a new creature in Christ Jesus. He is still alive. I still send him notes from time to time, and when I see a Facebook post by him, I always hit “like.” I am telling you, I am so thankful. You should be thankful and grateful, too.

Romans 1:21 should warn us of what happens when we are not thankful: “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. They professed themselves to be wise, and they became fools…”.  My friend, we must cultivate grateful hearts. Think about how God has used others in your life, and even how God has used you in the past—just like the Apostle Paul. Can you imagine who Paul was thinking about when he wrote: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”  Maybe Lydia, who was saved by the riverside. Possibly the Philippian jailer and the young girl who was delivered from a demon. And the many others who believed, who became followers of Jesus Christ. They formed a church that truly appreciated the Apostle Paul. They sent him supplies. They sent him money to support him along the way. And when Paul thought about them, he thought good thoughts. He had a grateful heart, and he thanked God.

We need to remember that our joy is not determined by our circumstances. Joy grows in a heart that remembers God’s goodness—especially through people. I want to encourage you today: keep your focus on God at work in the lives of others, and remember how God has used you in the past. You might feel like you are in a dormant season. It might be sickness or illness, and you are sitting there wondering, “Oh, I miss those days when I could interact with people and talk with them.” Paul was in prison, yet he thought of those people and was grateful. That is why he had a heart overflowing with joy.

God bless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.