What is the benefit of giving thanks? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says that giving thanks “is the will of God concerning you.” When you give thanks, you are in the will of God. When you are grumbling, you are outside of God’s will. To give thanks is to position yourself smack-dab in the middle of God’s will. This is critical because “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans8:28)
We know beyond any doubt that God is working out His will in the lives of believers, and He is using the tough times for a purpose. Yet as finite beings, we sometimes find it hard to see the big picture – we tend to only focus on a piece here or a piece there. But our Father sees the whole picture and how everything interconnects. He is weaving all of the pieces together so that everything will work together in the process of accomplishing His larger, kingdom agenda.
Each of the circumstances of your life is an important part in God’s kingdom portrait of your life. He mixes all things together to meet His divine purpose. Giving Him thanks is acknowledging His sovereignty and demonstrating a heart of faith in the truth that He is the master Planner and Architect … working all things together for good to those who love Him and to those who are called according to His purposes.
Tony’s full message on giving thanks. Listen online.