16/11/2023
GIVING THANKS IN EVERYTHING:
In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
As you read through the Bible, you see the instruction repeatedly to give thanks! In fact, it is given as a command in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Some have called 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 the standing orders for every follower of Christ, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Rejoicing flows from a heart that has been in the presence of the Lord (Ps. 16:11), occupied with Him, and strengthened by that occupation (Neh. 8:10). It is not based on circumstances or feelings; it is based on spending time with the Lord, and it can be the constant experience of the Christian.
Every believer is to pray without ceasing. This means having an attitude of dependence rather than thinking, "all we can do is pray. " Praying without ceasing is making prayer the first thing we do!
This brings us to the third of the standing orders: “In everything, give thanks.” It is good to see that a thankful person is also joyful and prayerful.
We are to give thanks because it is the will of God! The Lord desires for each of us to be thankful for His constant care, provision, and protection. We must realize that everything we have is from a loving Father (James 1:17; 1 Cor. 1:4-5).
The opposite of being thankful is to grumble or complain. This really grieves the heart of God, as we see throughout Israel's experience (Ex. 16:12; Num. 11:1-2).
A thankful heart is determined by perspective and occupation. Having a thankful heart is one way to keep the poison of bitterness out of the well of our hearts! Giving thanks also is a way to keep our hearts aligned and balanced. It helps keep us in a right relationship with our God!
If we took time to list all the things we are thankful for, I’m sure we could fill the page. Why not get a piece of paper and a pen and begin now? Then give Him praise!🙏
