In All Things Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Psalm136:1 (ESV)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."

Giving thanks is a foundational response to God in the Bible. When you grow in the knowledge of God and your focus is on Him, you can, as the Scripture says, “in all things give thanks.”

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

What does the Bible say about giving thanks in all things?

You can give thanks in all things because thanksgiving is a response to the goodness and grace of God. God’s nature does not change based on outward circumstances.

It’s difficult to be thankful when you are:

· Not trusting fully in God’s faithfulness

· Not fully yielded to God as the good King

· Proud or arrogant

· Discontented

· Anxious

· Focused only on the negative

· Jealous or envious of others

· Holding on to anger or bitterness

Thankfulness is one of the ways to measure your spiritual health. It’s an indicator of how much you know God. It can reveal how much you are trusting in Him.

When you are growing in the knowledge of God, you can give thanks in every circumstance. It doesn’t matter whether you have plenty or are in need. You can have a spirit of thanksgiving that carries you into God’s heart for your life.

In this world, it’s easy to take things for granted. We need to remember to give thanks in every circumstance.

God made the world to work in such a way that people can see His character and faithfulness in the world (Romans. 1:20).

· The air we breathe every time we take a breath

· The sun that gives light, warmth, and life to plants and all living things

· The intricate way our bodies work

· The laws of nature that keep our universe in order

· The beautiful things of the human spirit like love, kindness, wisdom, and compassion.

· And the list goes on…

We have an endless list of things that are common grace everyone experiences. We also have the greatest display of God’s goodness and faithfulness to the world, His special grace.

God’s steadfast love is fully displayed through Jesus Christ. He laid down His life on the cross to die for the sins of the world. He did this all out of love. This takes our thanksgiving to a whole other level.

When we give thanks, it aligns us with God’s goodness, opens us up to receive more from Him, and frees us from anxiety and worry. It carries us through any struggle and hardship in life. It even carries us through persecution and the valley of the shadow of death..

Giving thanks is meant to bring encouragement and strength no matter what you’re going through. Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about thankfulness, why it’s important and powerful, and how you can give thanks in everything.