Giving Thanks

Scripture: I Thess. 5:18 -  In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 After witnessing so many opportunities when people fail to give thanks, I felt it was time that I address the subject in a small way among a Christian community, the Church.  Perhaps this devotional will stir someone to take a step back and reassess his/her behavior of expressing  thankfulness.  Apostle Paul’s  Epistle to the  infant Thessalonian church as their spiritual parent desires that they increase in love one to another, rejoice , pray, and give thanks always (I Thess. 5: 16-18).

In everything give thanks. Every situation, every circumstance; give thanks. Beloved, give thanks always for all things (Eph. 5:20). Giving thanks is important to God. It keeps our heart in a right relationship with Him. When we are not in a right relationship with God; our emotions and attitude will keep us from experiencing that peace that God wants for us to experience (Phil. 4:6-7). The Bible is filled with Scriptures regarding giving thanks to God. (Ps. 106:1;  107:1; I Chron. 16:34; I Thess. 5:18). For there are reasons we ought to give thanks to Him, such as “His love endures forever” (Ps. 136:3); “He is good” (Ps 118:29); and His mercy is everlasting” (Ps.100:5). Jesus heals our diseases. Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned to thank Him (Luke 17:12-17).

It is good for us to express appreciation.  God desires that we learn to be thankful for all the gifts He has given us (Jam. 1:17). Everything that we have is from His hands.  It would be wise for us to practice expressions of gratitude often. Without being grateful, we tend to become proud, self- centered creatures,  believing that, we have achieved everything on our own. Having a grateful heart, can be attributed to regularly, and consistently reading the Bible, praying, and praising God -- realizing that we could not exist without the merciful blessings of God. We are to be thankful for all that comes into our lives --  every situation or circumstance. (Nehemiah 1:5-11). Therefore, we block bitterness from hurt, and pain. We can’t be bitter and thankful at the same time. We can thank God for sustaining us through evil acts -- thanking Him for allowing the strength to endure. We can thank God for His promises. “For they are yea and amen” (2 Cor. 1:20). Beloved, choose to be thankful in everything and experience a life of joy and peace.

Prayer: Lord, I acknowledge that, I have sorted out and knowingly avoided giving thanks in grief, gruesome acts of violence, terrible accidents, and evilness. Everything God brings into our lives is Him ministering to us. It is He who sustains, protects, shields and delivers us. God is good and His mercy endures forever. Oh, come before His presence with thanksgiving. In Christ. Amen.

(by Novella D. Carpenter)