Thanksgiving Every Day

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Every morning, when I wake up, I begin my prayers by first thanking God for new life, salvation, joy, peace, and recovery. Giving thanks to God for what he’s done in my life puts my mind in a proper posture before him as I start my day. It’s hard to indulge in anxieties, resentments, anger, and frustrations when I’m saying, Thank you God for all that you’ve done in my life. Expressing gratitude makes me briefly look back at where I’ve been and where God has brought me, and in doing so, I humble myself before God, recognizing my continual need for him. Even on days when life circumstances aren’t going how I think they should go, I begin my prayers with gratitude because in doing so, I find that my joy and peace don’t come from those circumstances, but from my relationship with God.

Give thanks in all circumstances. In Thessalonians, Paul commanded Christians to give thanks in all circumstances. This, he said, was God’s will. In good times, we are to give thanks for what God has done for us. In bad times, we are still to give thanks. In all circumstances. God tells us that even when times are tough, we are to adopt a posture of gratitude before him because this makes us recognize that our life, joy, and peace aren’t dependent on circumstances, but on our relationship with our heavenly father.

Today is Thanksgiving and of course, I will take extra time to think of those things for which I’m grateful. I’m thankful for my family. I’m grateful to be employed. And of course, I’m thankful for my recovery. Gratitude though, according to the apostle Paul, shouldn’t be a once-a-year event. Rather, every day of my life should be Thanksgiving, as I learn to Give thanks in all circumstances. In doing so, I start off every day, pointing my life at God, which is a pretty good way to start the day.