Thanksgiving will soon be here and my thoughts are turning towards giving thanks. I thought it was a good time to share a post I had written for Woman to Woman Ministries in 2019.
At times, we may wonder what God’s will is for our lives. When His will is unclear, we find ourselves waiting for Him to direct.
There are other times, where He very specifically tells us His will:
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)
God clearly lays out His will for us ”“ in every circumstance, we are to be thankful.
This is possible as we remind ourselves of the sovereignty of God and His ability to redeem any situation.
“Paul never instructed the church to thank God for evil events but to thank God that even in evil times and circumstances our hope remains, and God continues his work in our lives.”
(The New American Commentary, Vol. 33, page 182)
Paul makes God’s will very clear. Be thankful at all times, for all things.
In keeping with this thought of thankfulness, I offer a few other quotes to think on:
- “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
”“ Henry David Thoreau - “There should be a parallel between our supplications and our thanksgivings. We ought not to leap in prayer, and limp in praise.”
”“ Charles Haddon Spurgeon - “The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”
”“ Henry Ward Beecher - “The Christian who walks with the Lord and keeps constant communion with Him will see many reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving all day long.”
”“ Warren W. Wiersbe - “Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.”
”“ A.W. Tozer
Are you up for the challenge?
Can you be thankful in all circumstances –
this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Today I am joining …
“Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.” Tozer’s quote is especially pertinent in this season where we need optimism to look ahead and praise God for what is going to happen, not only for what has happened already. Thanks for sharing this again, Joanne. It definitely bears repeating!
Lisa, in this season we find ourselves, it is good to remind ourselves that with our God we always have reason to hope and to praise Him.
Good morning! You’ve won the final copy in The Name It & Claim It 8 Book Giveaway, Joanne! Congrats …
Please email me your snail mail, friend.
lindastoll @ juno . com
Thankful for you.
Thank you, Linda. I stopped by your post never expecting to “win” anything.
It is important to remember it says to thank God IN all circumstances. This makes it much easier to do. God is with us always and will never leave or forsake us. I rejoice that He is my Savior.
Amen, Susan. We always can rejoice in Him.
Something I read in Wiesrbe’s commentary on Genesis said something like, “When Jacob said, ‘All these things are against me,’ they were really working for him.” That’s so hard to remember when everything seems to be going wrong. But God is with us and will redeem everything He allows us to go through. Sometimes thanksgiving is a matter of faith that that’s true.
I always find Wiersbe’s insights to be timely. May we remember that even when everything seems to be going wrong, God is with us right there in the midst.