“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:20
It is so easy to get caught up in what we don’t have that we forget to be thankful for what we do have—and then we can become discouraged. I once heard a story about a man who found the Devil’s seed barn. It was the place where the devil kept the seeds he sows into the hearts and lives of human beings. The man noticed that there was an enormous abundance of one particular kind of seed: the seed of discouragement. When he asked the devil why he had so many of those, the devil replied, “If I can sow discouragement into a person’s life, then I can get almost anything else I want into his life. The seeds of discouragement will sprout almost anywhere—except in the heart of someone who is thankful.”
We are living in a day when there is so much unthankfulness. In fact, Paul told Timothy that this would characterize people in the last days (2 Tim. 3:2). Romans 1:21 reminds us that failing to give thanks is a mark of the wicked: “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful.”
But the Bible gives us much positive encouragement on the subject of giving thanks. It repeatedly stresses the importance of thanksgiving:
“Offer to God thanksgiving” (Ps. 50:14).
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing” (Ps. 107:21–22).
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High” (Ps. 92:1).
“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20).
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17).
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).
Anchor For Today:
Thanksgiving should permeate our speech, our songs, and our prayers!