1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 “ 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. “
THERE IS A REASON TO BE THANKFUL: IT IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS THAT WE GIVE THANKS IN EVERY THING.
Notice that it really doesn’t say for all things, but in all things give thanks unto the Lord. If you have the kind of faith in God that goes beyond the circumstances of the moment, and knows that God’s hand is in control no matter what Hell and this imperfect world spits up at us, then you can give thanks at all times. God is still the same no matter how the circumstances change. In fact, God is still God over the circumstances!
You see, we are to appreciate the Lord. We are to acknowledge Him and His goodness in our lives at all times. As the Appalachian Song says, "He ain’t never done me nothin' but good"... I know its not perfect English, but it’s true; everything He has brought into my life is good. All good in our lives came from the Lord! We should be thankful! James 1:17 “ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. “
If you are alive and not in Hell, it is because of God’s grace. If you are on your way to Heaven, you really need to rejoice in the Lord, for it is because of God’s grace. We need to be thankful! Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. “
2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift. “
We are supposed to be thankful to God. He is worthy to be praised, and we should appreciat our Lord. To be thankful is to have grateful recognition to one you appreciate. They make you glad for what they have done for you. It brings a loving feeling of gratitude.
Thanksgiving is a festival season that we come together as family after harvest season; we sit around a table, and take time to THANK GOD, for the harvest. The prayer, at the table on Thanksgiving Day, usally said by the elder of the house, you might not have the turkey, but the thanksgiving prayer is irreplaceable. And it is done by holding hands resembling unity in giving Thanks.
Let not thanksgiving ,be a only a one time year affair that we do , as a ritual that was imposed on us but ,Let every day, every moment of our lives be filled with thanksgiving.
If a king like King David said these words
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
With a thankfully and praiseful heart , aren’t we suppose to do the same . we might think , so what he was king , A king has everything so he can praise god, Let me remind you that most of the Psalm uttered by David was not when he was king , but when he was fleeing for his life from Sole who was trying to kill him .
David praise god more in bad times and in good times , because David Saw God as God
,feared, loved and gave reverence to God in everything
So must we , we might think.How can we?.
If you have the heart for the Lord , your praise to him will come to you.
So let us with a heart of Gratitude and thanks let us give thanks to the lord for everything in our life that has, and is to come.