Give Thanks For All Things

-November 25, 2021 – Thanksgiving Day-

Good morning, happy Thursday, Happy Thanksgiving Day,

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Ephesians 5:20).

Paul was a thankful man. He thanked the Lord for His salvation and for the many blessings God had bestowed on him. He once persecuted the Christians, but after he received Christ, he became a leader for the cause of Christ. He never forgot where he came from and what the Lord did in his life. Even while in prison for his faith he thanked God and rejoiced in the Lord.

Yesterday we discussed the verse: “In everything give thanks,” today we have “Giving thanks for all things.” When we remember who the source of our blessing is, our Heavenly Father, we are humbled because we do not deserve any of His blessings. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

We have so much to thank God for. The list is endless. We have spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, material, and financial blessings; we have schools, jobs, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ. We are thankful for our ministries and the ability we have to serve the Lord. The hymn writer Johnson Oatman, Jr wrote, “Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

I find myself saying, “Thank You, Lord,” many times a day. Whether it is for a small thing or a big thing, and in any and all things. There are blessings everywhere even in hard times and difficulties. The Lord delights when we thank Him for everything. Today, as a nation we thank Him individually and collectively. It is good as we sit around the Thanksgiving table to share what we are thankful for. The Lord is so worthy of our thanks and praise.

The two key words in today’s verse are “thanks always.” One day a year is not enough to thank the Lord, one day a month is not enough, one day a week is not enough, and even once a day is not enough. The more we love Him, the more we thank Him, and the more we thank Him, the more we love Him.

Let us then thank the Lord today and everyday. May we thank in all things and for all things.

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean