Definition: to prepare and use for the raising of crops; to loosen or break up the soil; to foster the growth of; to improve by labor, care or study.
Synonyms: acquire, develop, form.
We regularly cultivate things such as:
- Relationships
- Gardens
- Health
- Resources
- Careers
- Ideas
But have you ever considered what it would look like to cultivate thankfulness?
15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. ~ Colossians 3:15-17 (The Message)
From what Paul mentions here, to cultivate thankfulness involves at least three things.
The first is the Word of Christ. The narratives of Jesus; the Bible; Scripture. And what great imagery Eugene Peterson uses here – letting it have the run of the house.
The second is to instruct and direct one another. It’s something we do together.
The third is to sing about it. Other versions refer to this as psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
I could elaborate on each of these elements but… I’m not going to; at least not now. But I will encourage and challenge you to wrestle with what all of this means by inviting the Spirit of God to bring it to life for you.
As we enter into another week of celebrating Thanksgiving, what better to occupy our minds than what it means to “cultivate thankfulness“?
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© Richard Alvey and iLife Journey, 2012. All rights reserved.