We must always have cause to be thankful to God in spite of our peculiar circumstances and this must not be too difficult to do. Our excuses and complaints are not worthy of consideration before God. Many are in worse circumstances than ours yet they give thanks to God. Psalms 84: 11 says for the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favour and honour. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly. What we call evil may after all be good in due course. We invite the Holy Spirit to be our teacher always to explain why we must give thanks to the Lord always.
God has planned our lives
Jeremiah 29: 11 says for I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope, says the Lord. Shall we fail to give thanks to the one who before we were formed in the womb had plans of welfare and not for evil for us? Shall we fail to give thanks to the one who is unfailing in his promises? God said in Joshua 1: 5 no man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. God’s promise to Moses goes for all generations of those who love the Lord.
God said to Abraham in Genesis 12: 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves? All who believe in God are spiritual descendants of Abraham and these blessings are our inheritance by God’s plan. The Lord fights for us; heals our souls; provides for us; gives us inner peace; leads us; teaches us; gives us understanding and wisdom; gives us life, opportunities, companionship; and all we need even beyond life through Christ Jesus by his plan. We must appreciate God in all circumstances beyond our eyes.
Giving thanks shows contentment
Those who are content give thanks to God. We were not created to have all we want but what God gives us so when shall we be content with what God has given us? In Luke 3: 14 Jesus said to the soldiers, rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. Jesus’ statement meant that we defraud and cheat and steal and rob and engage in all untoward lives because of greed and pride. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12: 10 for the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardship, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul knew the will of Christ Jesus for him and so was content in all circumstances. Do we know God’s will for us? Hebrews 13: 5 says keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he (Christ Jesus) has said, I will never fail you nor forsake you. Our craving for worldly things obstructs us from showing gratitude to God. James 4: 4 says therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. We are not content because of worldly fame and power. Jesus says we must be satisfied with what we have so we can be thankful to God.
God loves us through Christ Jesus
We must give thanks to God because he loves us. Romans 5: 8 says but God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. By Jesus’ death, we are not inhibited by anything which is in accord with God’s will and purpose. Paul said in Philippians 4:13 that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Because of God’s love 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Christ Jesus has shouldered all our troubles because of his love.
God’s love makes him accept all who come to him. John 6: 37 says all that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. God’s love also made Jesus to die for all to save. Romans 5: 8 says but God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. 1 Thessalonians 5: 10 says Christ died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. God’s love gives us an assurance of eternal divine security. Colossians 3: 3 says for you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
By God’s love, he has given us a name to call in times of trouble. Philippians 2:9-11 say that therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He lives and reigns forever. Because of God’s love, he has made Jesus to bear our burdens. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 says come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Psalms 55:22 says cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
God’s love has made us his children through Christ Jesus. John 1:12-13 says to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God. By God’s love, Christ Jesus has shown the way to eternal life. Romans 6:23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus said in John 11: 25-26 I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?
God’s ways are perfect
We must always give thanks to the Lord because his ways are perfect for us. Deuteronomy 32: 4 says the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he. This means all God does about or with or for us is perfect even if we do not see or understand or know. God is faithful with us and will keep faith in his promises to us.
Isaiah 55: 8 for my (God) thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. Therefore we should understand and appreciate God for his higher thoughts above ours. Christ Jesus was always thankful to God for his circumstances whether good or bad because he knew the end was good for us. We must also give thanks to the Lord always. The call to give thanks is not conditional but a blessing.
Prayer
We thank you Lord Jesus Christ for planning our lives even before we were formed in our mothers’ wombs; for teaching us and for first loving us when we were yet sinners by shedding your blood on the cross for our redemption. Make us to be thankful always in all circumstances that we may continue to enjoy your presence. Wash away our ingratitude and save our souls today in your holy name, Amen!!
