DAILY TEXT, Friday, February 12. 2016

[Queen Esther]

Show yourselves thankful . . . , encouraging one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs sung with gratitude.—Col. 3:15, 16.

We can learn much from the apostle Paul about cultivating gratitude. Evidently, he meditated on his blessings, for he frequently expressed heartfelt thanks. Paul well knew that he had been “a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man.” Hence, he gave thanks that despite his past sinful conduct, God and Christ had shown him mercy and had entrusted him with a ministry. (1 Tim. 1:12-14) Paul also deeply appreciated his fellow Christians and often thanked Jehovah for their fine qualities and faithful service. (Phil. 1:3-5, 7; 1 Thess. 1:2, 3) And when Paul faced trialsome situations, he was quick to thank Jehovah for the timely support that he received from his spiritual brothers. (Acts 28:15; 2 Cor. 7:5-7) It is not surprising, therefore, that Paul’s writings encourage Christians with the words of today’s text. w15 1/15 1:5