May you be strengthened with all power,
according to His glorious might,
for all endurance and patience with joy…
Colossians 1:11 (ESV)
It is Thanksgiving week when family and friends gather to celebrate the blessings of the past year. It has become one of the busiest holidays of the year. As we gather, there may be differences of opinions and lifestyles that generate conflicting emotions. But God, who knows all things, gives us what we need to maintain the purpose of the gathering and that is to give thanks.
God displays His power in and through Jesus Christ in the work of the Holy Spirit within us. We see that in Paul’s prayer for believers to be strengthened with that very same power according to God’s glorious might. For what purpose? That we may endure and be patient in a way that exhibits joy in the waiting.
We need this power to endure when we have a person in our lives who continually thinks to put us in our place through criticism. Relationships are a good and godly thing when God is the third party. But when we do not invite Him into the conversation, words spoken can cause grief and despair. We need endurance and patience to maintain our godliness when we want to react rather than respond.
God is omnipotent. He is all-power and can send His power like dynamite to destroy feelings of despair and self-sufficient thoughts. He gives what we need to persevere through grief and pain. In Paul’s statement, he wanted the people to know that he prayed for God to supply His power, not for selfish purposes, but to enable them to live in a worthy manner for God with endurance and patience.
May we pray today for God to strengthen us all with power to endure whatever circumstance is causing despair, pain, or grief. Then call upon the Lord our God with a grateful heart to give us strength as well.
Lord, may we approach Thanksgiving with grateful hearts for You and those you have given us as family and friends. Help us to be vessels of Your love. In Jesus Name, Amen.