Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
The Proper Response
Thankfulness is the proper response to God’s blessing. One day, Jesus healed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). He sent them to show themselves to the priests. As they went, they were cleansed, but only one returned to thank Jesus. This man was a Samaritan who received praise from the Lord. But Christ asked him, “Where are the other nine?” Only one made the effort to thank Jesus for His gift of a life-transforming miracle.
We may wonder, at times, what God’s will is for our lives. With big and little decisions, we can go to the Lord. Even if we don’t always know the Father’s plan, it is always God’s will that we give thanks.
It Starts with a Decision
Learning to be thankful starts with a decision, a decision that we make with God’s ability. As we learn to give thanks regularly, gratitude becomes our lifestyle. It flows out of us like an eternal spring.
We are to thank God in all circumstances but not for all circumstances. Not everything we face in life comes from the Lord’s hand.
When we thank God, we invite His presence in our lives. We also open the door for us to become more intimate with our Father God. And thankfulness defeats the enemy in our lives. The Bible says that praise stills the avenger (See Psalm 8:2).
Make it Your Daily Practice
Let’s remember the things that we can be thankful for: good health, food, friends, family, and especially our relationship with the Savior. All of us have things we can be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, we can praise and thank our heavenly Father for His many blessings.
Let’s make thanksgiving our daily practice.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all your blessings and for your great love for me. Help me to remain thankful always. Enable me also to share my blessings with others. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
