THANKSGIVING IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:8

Thanksgiving is God’s will for your life. Lots of things happen around you that are not God’s will. They are called circumstances. Circum-stance literally means the circle you are standing in — the stuff around you. Thanksgiving is how you keep what goes on around you from determining what goes on within you.

You don’t need to be thankful FOR all circumstances. But you do need to give thanks IN all circumstances. Some things are horrible. They are not good, they are not God’s will, and you don’t have to like them. But if you keep thinking and talking about the bad things going on around you, pretty soon they are lodged within you. They pollute your mind and heart and attitude. They make your soul sick.

Thanksgiving is the antidote to this soul sickness. When you turn your attention to good things, your perspective agrees with God instead of his enemies. Disgust, despair, depression and the like won’t stick around in the presence of thanksgiving. That’s why it’s so important and we need it more than ever.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Phillipians 4:8

This holiday is a chance to practice on one “holy” day what you should be doing all the time. Whatever the circumstances around you, cultivate thanksgiving within you. It’s God’s will for your life and it’s good for your soul.