'In Everything Give Thanks' ?

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians  5:16-18, “Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God  in Christ Jesus for you. “

This passage, and others like it, make known that giving proper thanks to God is His desire for all of those He has created. Obviously, we should give thanks for all of the many wonderful blessings that are ours in Christ.

But along with constant prayer, we are also told to give thanks even in the midst of those things that may be downright terrible and fearful to deal with. This aspect of praising God is revealed in Philippians 4:6-7. Again it is Paul who records, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Here, the context of thanking God even in hard times is made quite clear. But we are assured that doing so, along with fervent and specific prayer,  will protect our hearts and minds in the storms of life.

The Old Testament too reveals God’s deep desire to receive the praise that is due Him. Psalm 107 is a classic passage along these lines and is often read at Thanksgiving time.  It begins, "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."  Then some fours times over, the writer repeats the phrase, "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

And Psalm 107:22 expands on the subject. ‘"Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,   And declare His works with rejoicing." This same thought is echoed in Hebrews 13:15.  “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” These verses reveal that the proper giving of thanks to God is a literal act sacrifice – something not always associated with this activity.

At this Thanksgiving season, let us not allow food, football, friends, and even family to interfere with what is Biblically good and right! So let us pause and intentionally focus in on what really matters and on the countless blessings that are ours as Christians. And lets us begin by starting with the two at the top of the lengthy list. We have been given ‘Peace with God’ in salvation and the promised ‘Peace of God’ by having our hearts and minds fully guarded even in the midst of a sometimes dark and difficult world.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”  (Colossians 3:17)

Bill Breckenridge