How Giving Thanks For God’s Steadfast Love Builds Better Relationships

What does God’s love have to do with our relationships? When the Bible says that “God is love” in 1 John 4:7-8, it is a critical reminder about why we serve Him. If our focus is on what God can do for us instead of Who He is—we will not follow Him for long. Similarly, if we build human relationships based upon what others can do for us—instead of valuing them for who they are—those relationships won’t last very long either. 

Real love is not mercenary—it’s completely selfless.

God created us in His image and for His glory and thus, when we are born again, we enter into a relationship with Him. Our soul and spirit are made alive and enabled to experience and appreciate His steadfast love. 

But our enemies want us to forget WHO God is and WHAT He has done for the human race because—when we become unthankful—we destroy ourselves and everyone around us. 

Probably one of the most critical passages about the vital link between unthankfulness and destruction is in Romans 1: 21-32 which states: 

“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. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” ‭‭‬‬

Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬-‭22 NKJV‬

If you read the rest of this passage, it details the tragic results of abandoning thankfulness. Your life and my life were meant for so much more than the life described in verses 28-31! 

God has given us His Word and His Spirit so that we can develop a healthy mentality of thankfulness. 

For example, as I was reading Psalms 136 this morning, God’s Spirit began to fill me with thoughts about how glorious His presence is. I was filled with a sense of wonder about how indescribably amazing His love is. The Psalmist, repeatedly wrote “His mercy endures forever.” “Mercy” is defined as God’s “steadfast love.” As we meditate on this passage, we are able to reset our mind upon the glorious works of God:

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 

Oh, give thanks to the Lord of Lords! For His mercy endures forever: 

To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever; 

To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever; 

To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever; 

To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever— 

The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever; 

The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.”

Psalms‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As we reset our mind on the glorious presence and power of God, we become thankful for His presence. We realize that the greatest gift we have is not all of the things that God has given us, but rather, the extraordinary goodness of His presence. He is the fountain of all goodness that we possess. The presence of His steadfast love is better than anything in this world—even our own physical life. For all that is in the world passes away—but He endures forever. 

When we learn to abide in the deep satisfaction of God’s presence, we value Him for Who He is—not what He gives us; we value others for who God made them—not what they can do for us; and we become the friend who loves others as we are loved by God.

We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.

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