God's Will For You

The importance of giving thanks

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

“If you woke up tomorrow and only had what you thanked God for today, how much would you have left?”

This was the question posed by a friend of mine who was leading our small group. And over the years, his question has stayed with me. During my lifetime, I have witnessed saying “Thank you” become a lost art as our culture has grown more and more entitled. We seem to think God owes us a happy life, and if things don’t go our way, God’s not doing his job.

But God owes us nothing. Every breath is a gift of his grace—a gift we don’t deserve. We’re not promised tomorrow or even the rest of today. God has gifted us life… and so much more. And, as James, the brother of Jesus, reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

It’s not very often that the Bible uses the phrase “this is the will of God… for you.” But 1 Thessalonians 5:18 couldn’t be any clearer. Giving thanks in all circumstances is God’s will for you. Living a thankful life, having a grateful heart, and showing gratitude are God’s will for us.

We can’t possibly thank God daily for everything he’s blessed us with. There are countless blessings we receive unawares every single day! But my friend’s point is well taken. Do I stop to thank God for his blessings each day? Is it my regular practice to tell God (and others) “Thank you”?

One of the things I’ve learned to do over the years is start each prayer with thanksgiving. I try to be specific—not just generic thank yous but acknowledging God’s particular blessings. Saying thank you reminds me that I depend on God, from whom all blessings flow. It helps fight envy, disappointment, and greed by keeping my eyes on what God has given me rather than what I don’t have. What do you need to thank God for today?

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! ~ Psalm 107:1 (ESV)