For Christ-followers, however, Thanksgiving should be a way of life. In fact, according to Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica, Thanksgiving is God’s will for our lives. All of our days should be lived in a way that demonstrates our thankfulness to our Lord for all we have. The Bible tells us that “every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17, ESV). If everything in our lives arrives as a gift from God, then the flavor of our attitude ought to be one of thanks.

Our thanks must go one step further than mere thanksgiving for all of the good stuff God has given to us. As we give ourselves to thanksgiving we see that we should always give thanks. The verse from 1 Thessalonians 5 tells us to “give thanks in every circumstance.” That admonition means both in the good times and the bad.

I was blessed to be guided by a godly pastor in the early days of my ministry. While not perfect, he modeled a real desire to be like Jesus and take God’s word seriously. He really tried to live with this kind of gratitude in a consistent manner. As we would pray together in staff meetings, he would thank God for all of the trials and difficulties as well as the good things. While it sounded strange at first, over time it taught me to “exult in my tribulations” (Romans 5:3) as I thanked God for all things and every circumstance.

So, as followers of Jesus the Christ, we ought to be tempered by Thanksgiving.

                In our relationships and hardships…

                        at work and at church…

                                wherever we go and whatever we do…