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The Daily Devotional
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Gratitude That Remembers
“I don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” — Ephesians 1:16
Reflection
Ephesians 1:16 opens a window into the thankful heart of the Apostle Paul. As he writes to the believers in Ephesus, he does not begin with correction, instruction, or theological explanation alone. He begins with gratitude. Paul remembers them before God, and that remembrance becomes prayer. He gives thanks for them, not casually or occasionally, but faithfully: “I don’t cease to give thanks for you.” His thanksgiving is steady, personal, and prayerful.
This verse reminds us that gratitude is not only something we feel when life is pleasant. Gratitude is a spiritual practice. It teaches the heart to notice grace. It helps us recognize that God often strengthens, encourages, and blesses us through people. Sometimes His kindness comes through a friend who listens, a family member who stays near, a teacher who speaks wisdom, a neighbor who lends a hand, or a quiet servant who never asks to be noticed. When we remember such people before God, gratitude becomes more than appreciation. It becomes intercession.
Paul’s gratitude was not vague. He did not simply thank God for “blessings” in general. He thanked God for people. He carried their names into prayer. That is one of the tender lessons of this verse. A thankful heart does not only look upward toward God; it also looks outward toward others. It sees the fingerprints of grace in human relationships. It understands that the people God places in our lives are not accidents. They are often instruments of His mercy, patience, correction, comfort, and love.
There is a simple illustration of this in everyday life. Imagine someone sitting at the kitchen table early in the morning, before the busyness of the day begins. The coffee is still warm. The house is quiet. A notebook lies open nearby, perhaps with a few names written down. As the morning light begins to fill the room, this person pauses and remembers. One name brings to mind a friend who offered encouragement during a hard season. Another name recalls someone who prayed when words were hard to find. Another brings a memory of a neighbor who showed up with practical help at just the right time. None of these moments made headlines. They were not dramatic. Yet they carried the weight of grace.
In that quiet moment, gratitude becomes prayer. “Lord, thank You for them. Bless them today. Strengthen them. Let them know they are loved.” Something sacred happens when we do this. The heart becomes softer. The day begins differently. Instead of rushing into the morning with a list of burdens, the soul begins by remembering gifts. And among God’s greatest gifts are the people who have helped us keep going.
This kind of gratitude changes how we see others. It keeps us from taking people for granted. It reminds us that encouragement matters, faithfulness matters, kindness matters, and prayer matters. Many people carry unseen burdens. Some are weary from responsibilities they rarely mention. Some have poured into others for years and wonder if anyone notices. Some have been faithful in small things, quietly blessing others without applause. When we give thanks for them and mention them in prayer, we honor the grace of God at work in their lives.
Ephesians 1:16 also challenges us to let gratitude move outward. It is good to feel thankful, but it is better to let thanksgiving become love in action. Today, consider naming one or two people before God with sincere gratitude. Speak their names in prayer. Thank the Lord for what they have meant in your life. Then, as you are able, let that gratitude take a visible form. Send a note. Make a phone call. Offer a word of encouragement. Tell someone, “I thank God for you.” Such a simple sentence can become a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul.
Gratitude does not need to be polished to be powerful. It simply needs to be sincere. Paul’s words are tender because they are personal. He remembers the believers. He gives thanks. He prays. In doing so, he shows us a holy rhythm: notice, thank, remember, pray. This rhythm can shape our homes, friendships, churches, families, and daily routines. It can soften resentment, heal neglect, deepen affection, and renew our awareness of God’s goodness.
A thankful heart is not only aware of blessings received. It is attentive to the people through whom God has shown His kindness. When we give thanks for others and remember them in prayer, we step into a sacred way of living. We become people who notice grace, name grace, and return grace to God in prayer. And as we do, gratitude becomes more than a moment. It becomes a way of walking with the Lord.
Prayer
Gracious and loving God, thank You for the people You have placed along our path, for those who have encouraged us, prayed for us, helped us, taught us, corrected us, loved us, and quietly stood beside us in seasons of joy and difficulty. Cultivate within us a grateful heart that notices Your grace in the lives of others. Teach us not to take kindness for granted, but to remember one another faithfully before You. Help us today to give thanks sincerely, to pray generously, and to let our gratitude become encouragement, compassion, and love. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the World English Bible (WEB), which is a Public Domain Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Holy Bible, first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. It is in draft form and is currently being edited for accuracy and readability. All rights reserved.
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