1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT – “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
A lifestyle of thanksgiving is one dedicated to giving thanks to God in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). For most of us, we tend to thank God in the good times or after a miraculous event, but the Bible encourages us to live a life of thanksgiving. We live a life of faith – the just shall live by faith. If you are living by faith, you can live a lifestyle of thanksgiving because you know that all things will work together for your good, and you know that the plans that God has for you are for good and not for evil, to give you a future and an expected end. Paul admonishes us to end our prayers, petitions, supplication with thanksgiving, if we want to experience God’s peace. Hannah, King Jehoshaphat, and the one leper demonstrate this lifestyle of thanksgiving. After the Lord blessed Hannah with a child Samuel, she returned to the house of the Lord, and gave thanks. She exemplifies giving thanks to the Lord, after an answered prayer (I Samuel 2:1-11). Jehoshaphat, for his part, gave thanks to the Lord before the answer to the prayer (1 Chronicles 20:21). He also gave thanks after the miraculous deliverance (1 Chronicles 20:27-29). And then the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus (Luke 17:11-18). Luke 17:17-18 (AMPC) “Then Jesus asked, ” Were not [all] ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was there no one found to return and to recognize and give thanks and praise to God except this alien?” The Lord expects us to give Him thanks, it is the right thing to do, and it honors Him. Amen.
Scriptures: Luke 17:11-18, 1 Chronicles 20:1-30, 1 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 2:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
Prayer:
- Give thanks to the Lord for all He has done for you.
- Thank Him for the things He is yet to do.
- Determine that you will lead a lifestyle of thanksgiving – living by faith and taking Him at His Word.
- Ask the Lord to help you lead a lifestyle of thanksgiving.