God’s word tells us that we are to live in a state of thankfulness to Him. Giving Him thanks and acknowledging Him one time per year is not adequate for all God deserves. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us that we are to be “thankful in everything, in all circumstances.”
Even if we approach this time of year feeling overwhelmed by life and it’s circumstances, God wants us to slow down and begin to make ourselves aware of what we have been blessed with. He wants and He deserves to be praised.
1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Despite the situations happening around me, I can rely on two truths from this single verse: God is good. God’s love will endure for eternity.
Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.” I give thanks because God is my provider and my protector. He provides me with all I need, including strength for each day and every circumstance. God shields me from harm, and from facing an eternity separated from Him. God can be trusted. He is faithful. God is my helper. He equips me to do what I am unable to do apart from Him.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.” I am a sinner who deserves to die for what I have done. I give thanks to God, because He has given me the gift of forgiveness. His forgiveness is complete. I am washed clean. My sins are completely removed from me. This is not something that I have earned, but rather a gift. It is because of God’s great provision and love, that He gave the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus. I am so thankful for a future that is secure. I am so blessed to know that I will spend eternity in the presence of such love.
God has blessed me with His love, with peace, with hope. God has blessed me by providing for my every need. In fact, God is so generous with His blessing that I often receive beyond my needs and am given my wants! God has blessed me with His presence.
“Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:2-3)
May we take the time to slow down and give thanks to the One who is worthy of all praise.
Blessings!