Every November Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Well, Scripture talks a lot about thanksgiving, but in a different way. Scripture tells us to give thanks in everything not just the pleasant, beneficial and joy-inspiring. The apostle Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. We should develop the habit of thanking God for the innumerable benefits he sends our ways. So often we overlook the good things he sends us and don’t even bother to say “thanks.” Let’s change that and develop the habit of acknowledging God as the source of all our blessings.
Scripture goes beyond thanking God for the pleasant. In all circumstances give thanks just like Paul and Silas praised God even though they had just been beaten severely and incarcerated even though they were guilty of nothing except spreading the good news about Jesus Christ! So, we want to develop the habit of offering thanks to our wonderful Lord when life treats us badly. Our God uses both the good and the bad in our favor. Can you imagine Jesus’ pain at his arrest, beating, unjust trial, crucifixion and tortured death? Nevertheless, he never sinned, never cursed those who hurt him and kept his attention focused on heavenly Father’s love. That’s the kind of person we want to be!
