“ Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”--1 Thess. 5:16-18

I recently said,”For the Christian giving thanks should be as natural as breathing”. However, there are times when we can actually struggle to breathe or to express our gratitude. Things aren’t always normal and we sometimes act out of character due to some difficulty. If you are going through tough times and finding it hard to give thanks, here’s something that might help:

An article in Senior Living says, Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. That’s because he always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this.”

Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, “We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this!”

Tough circumstances often make giving thanks a real challenge. And today, on a day when thankfulness is in so much focus, people around our nation and our world are experiencing unspeakable pain. So how, then, can we fulfill the mandate laid out in today’s Scripture?

While our situation might make it difficult to give thanks to God, one thing we must always remember is that God is good. And because of that, we have confidence in tough times that it won’t always be like this. A better day is coming.

When that becomes your hope, thankfulness is a natural response. So give thanks today not because of your circumstances, but because you have a God who loves you and gives you hope for better days ahead!

“ By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is , the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” –Hebrews 13:15

When expressing our gratitude we usually think, “I am thankful because–“, but sometimes we ought to be thinking, “I am thankful regardless”. Far too often we allow circumstances to dictate what we do. When it comes to praise and thanksgiving we never have a cause to cease– it should be continuous.

An article in “Senior Living” said, “Throughout all of history, many cultures, nations, and people groups have set aside one time or another to express their thankfulness for various things in life. In the United States, Thanksgiving Day originated with the Pilgrims. While facing extreme hardship, the loss of loved ones, meager supplies, life-threatening illnesses, and severe weather conditions, they still believed it was important to acknowledge their blessings in the midst of their circumstances.

The Pilgrims chose to celebrate God’s blessings by sharing a meal with the Native Americans who helped them survive the brutal conditions. How much more would it take for us today, considering all the gifts we currently have, for us to truly give thanks to God for what we have—without a hint of complaining?

It seems that many people have lost the spirit of the original celebration that took place between the Pilgrims and Native Americans. How often do we catch ourselves complaining that our Thanksgiving Day has been spoiled by dreary weather, bad food, or an annoying cold? We should make every day of the year one of thanksgiving—whatever our circumstances!”

Billy Graham once wrote, “Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as is lying or stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible. Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness.”

“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;”–2 Corinthians 9:11–13

Charles Spurgeon said, “Maturity in grace makes us willing to part with worldly goods; the green apple needs a sharp twist to separate it from the bough; but the ripe fruit parts readily from the wood. Maturity in grace makes it easier to part with life itself; the unripe pear is scarcely beaten down with much labor, while its mellow companion drops readily into the hand without the slightest shake. Rest assured that love to the things of this life, and cleaving to this present state, are sure indications of immaturity in the divine life.”

Paul Chappell wrote, “A lack of giving is an unmistakable sign of a lack of gratitude. Generous giving is not measured by the amount given, but by the heart and by the circumstances in which it was given. Since everything we have is a gift from God, we have no basis for selfishly clinging to our possessions. Jesus said to the disciples when He sent them out, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

The reality is that we have been richly blessed by God. There are many today who teach that God wants us to be rich and happy. However, the Bible teaches that God wants us to be generous and holy. We can never repay the debt we owe to Him, and we cannot purchase our standing with Him. But a grateful heart should willingly give out of appreciation for all it has received.”

There is no doubt about it, true thanksgiving will lead to thankful-giving– the giving of ourselves to meet the needs of others. Grace generates gratitude, and gratitude makes us generous. Mercy motivates us to minister to others. Like Abraham of old, we are blessed to be a blessing. I pray that Thanksgiving Day will remind each of us that we have a daily duty to do unto others what Christ has done unto us. Freely we have received, so freely should we give. That’s the evidence that we are truly thankful.

“I trust in Thy word.” – Psalms 119:42

It is unsafe and improper to trust our feelings or fancies; to listen to suggestions, or judge by appearances; the Christian’s guide is God’s word, and this should be the object of his trust. If we cannot take God’s word and depend upon it, what can we trust?

It is true; on all necessary points plain; it has been tried and always found faithful. We should believe it, rely on it, plead it, expect its fulfilment, and comfort ourselves with it; especially when surrounded with difficulties, when in darkness or filled with forebodings, because God delays and our prayers are not answered.

Trusting in God’s faithful word will bring peace to the mind, experience to the soul, and deliverance in every time of trouble: if we trust God’s word we may be confident, for our supply is certain. Trusting a naked promise is difficult, but it is attainable, and truly desirable. The promise is God’s bond, and is intended to set our minds at rest; if we trust it calmly and implicitly, we shall enjoy peace, quietness, and confidence.

Trusting God’s word, we need fear no foe, or dread any trouble; all is safe, and safe for ever.–James Smith, 1840

In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust:
Mighty and merciful, and just,
Thy faithful word I prove;
Thou canst, Thou wilt my helper be:
My confidence is all in Thee,
The faithful God of love

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.”–Psalm 95:1–5

Since we live in a fallen world, life is tough for everyone. We can always find a cause for grief and something to complain about, and most people do. Christians, however, can always find a reason to rejoice. There is always something for which we can be thankful. Dr. Paul Chappell wrote:

“We live in a man-centered world. The motivating spirit of our age is a humanistic, self-focused spirit. This delights Satan, because it is his spirit. The initial rebellion against God described by the prophet Isaiah reveals the roots of what we see around us. “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13–14).

As Christians we should stand against the spirit of the age, and one of the keys to doing that is to focus on God rather than on ourselves. God is not a disinterested bystander. He is the creator and controller of the world. Everything that we see was made by Him and belongs to Him. Rather than seeking to satisfy our own appetites and please ourselves, we should be focused on bringing honor and glory to God.

A life lived with this goal will be a life filled with thanksgiving and praise. The greatness, majesty, and power of God, and His wonderful provision for us give us every reason to rejoice. We are not abandoned to the world—we always have God’s provision as our promise. This truth should make us grateful indeed.”