Ephesians 1:16 KJV – ‘[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.’
When was the last time you gave thanks for the loved ones God has placed in your life? Before you search your memories, let me remind you that giving thanks is not as simplistic as it sounds. There is so much meaning and sincerity behind those two words.
The phrase “give thanks” in Ephesians 1:16 comes from the Greek word eucharisteo, a compound of the words eu and charis. The word eu means good or well and denotes a general good disposition or an overwhelmingly good feeling about something. The word charis is the Greek word for grace or freely granted favor. These two words together describe an outpouring of freely granted favor and wonderful feeling that flows from the heart in response to someone or something. This is the word Paul used when he “gave thanks” for the Ephesian church. In fact, in nearly all his letters, Paul used eucharisteo to denote his thankfulness for the people he loved.
When Paul said, “[I] cease not to give thanks for you…” he meant that his overwhelming feelings of thankfulness and freely granted favor toward the Ephesians did not stop. In other words, the Greek meaning carries this idea: “Thanking God for you is so easy — it just flows out of my heart every time I think of you. In fact, I never take a break from letting God know how I feel about you.”
In Colossians 1:3, Paul uses the same Greek word when he says, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” In 1 Thessalonians 1:2, he uses the same Greek word again when he prays for the Thessalonian believers: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” He also uses it in 2 Thessalonians 1:3. He writes, “We are bound to thank God always for you….”
The fact that Paul used the word eucharisteo when he prayed for his dearest friends reminds us how deep and sincere our thankfulness should be for our relationships. Whenever we think of our closest circle of friends, a deep sense of gratefulness, thankfulness, and appreciation should well up within us!
So, when you’re praying for others, stop for a moment and reflect on all God has done in your life through those who are closest to you. When you realize the value of those relationships, you’ll be able to freely, joyfully, and unreservedly thank God for such precious friends!
PRAYER: Lord, You have blessed me with the most wonderful friends — and today I want to thank You for putting such great people in my life. Long-term, real friends are such a treasure, so I want to start this day by thanking You for the gift of precious relationships. Help me to never lose sight of how much I need these people. Help me to never fail to show them how much I love and appreciate them! I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen!