Elevated Friday, February 28th, 2020

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a story of thankfulness and good news. We’ve all heard of the devastating fires in Australia over the last several months and of many brave American firefighters who volunteered their time and efforts, and risked their lives, to help the Australians in their time of need. This week, the fires were declared contained! The New South Wales Rural Fire Service took the opportunity to thank the US for its support by taking out a 70 foot billboard in Times Square just to say thank you. It was a powerful message, saying, “Imagine fighting a bushfire higher than this billboard, thank you to the brave Australian and US firefighters defending Australia … and to the world for all your support.” Such thankfulness is always a good thing and is a lesson in both relationship building and life in general.

Thankfulness is an incredibly important virtue in life for two reasons— the impact is has on those to whom it is given and the impact on the one who gives it. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and being appropriately thanked is important to building a strong relationship with someone. But more importantly, being thankful changes us when we give it. The way we see the world is completely different when we thank the Lord for each thing we see, have, and do. The Bible says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Nothing can change our mindset, and lives, faster than being thankful. Today, resolve to live more thankful than you were yesterday.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Original Article:

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