2 Reasons to be Thankful (And 20 More)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

A while ago I went to a wonderful conference in Nashville. It was an amazing and much-needed time of refreshing. The opening session put my mind on track to really get all that I needed from God the rest of my time there. I needed a mind shift, a perspective change, and they took care of it right off the bat. They talked about no matter what your job title or calling is, we all have one line on our job description that each of us is called to do. Each one of us is called to give thanks to God!

Most likely we have all had seasons where we are standing strong, and others where we are struggling or nursing wounds. In both it is important to remember this line from our job description. If we do, we will experience our heavenly Father in new and intimate ways. When we are strong and things are going well, we need to not forget that God has had a hand in it. We need to thank Him for the blessings and joy we are experiencing. When we are struggling, we have an opportunity to get into His presence and experience His comfort, strength and love in new and profound ways. Then I believe there is a third situation we might find ourselves in. It is the in-between season. We aren’t fully strong but we also aren’t in the trenches. We are fine but not great.  Here but not thriving. We are stuck. It seems like there is just one last hurdle that we have to get over to have full and complete healing. 

As I was contemplating these stages at the conference, I heard these four simple words, Give Thanks to God. Now I know these are not “new” words. I have heard them many times and have even said them, but my heart has not been able to say them lately without a little clause on the end.

• I will thank God for all that He has provided, but I wish things would have happened in a different way.
• I will thank God for the ways He has healed my heart, but if He could just whip so and so into shape I wouldn’t have to protect my heart so much and I could love more freely and easily.
• I will thank God for ordering my steps, but I wish things would change a little faster.

The clause at the end made it so I couldn’t simply love God and be grateful for who He is just because He is who He says He is.

After that session, I went back to my room and looked up “Give Thanks” to see what those Scriptures said. I started to write the references down and quickly noticed a pattern. There were several different phrases that continued to be tied to the word “Give Thanks.” The two top reasons on why we should give thanks is because: God is good and God’s love endures forever. (Psalm 136)

Think about it. Those two reasons alone are reason enough to be thankful. Reason enough to not book a second, or third or tenth pity party.  If we are to be truly thankful, we have to believe those two facts about God. They have to be Truth in your life:

God is good and He will love you forever!!

As I looked up these Scriptures I made a list of all the reasons that we should be thankful. I pray that as we enter into the month of Thanksgiving we can all take a holiday from our worry, doubt, fear and anxiety and just focus on these few (but amazing) reasons to be thankful. There are so many more that we could list, but this will get you started! 

Give Thanks because:

1. He is good: Nahum 1:7, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 107:1, Romans 8:28
2. His love endures forever: 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 136
3. He delivers: Psalm 18: 1-3, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:4, 17 Psalm 107:6
4. He is glorious: Deuteronomy 32:3-4, Psalm 111:3
5. He does good deeds: Psalm 9:1, James 1:17
6. He is righteous: Psalm 116:5, Zephaniah 3:5, Ezra 9:15
7. He answers: Psalm 34:17, Proverbs 15:29, 1 John 5:14-15
8. He is our salvation: Psalm 27:1-3, Psalm 62: 6-8, Isaiah 12:2
9. He is the God of gods and Lord of lords: Deuteronomy 10:17, Daniel 2:47, Revelation 19:16
10. He is the God of Heaven: Psalm 146:6-9, Acts 17: 24-28
11. He is the Lord Almighty: Psalm 91:1-2, Psalm 80:19, Revelation 1:8
12. He gives grace: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 2: 8-9, James 4:6-7
13. He gives us victory through Jesus Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14
14. His gracious favor: Psalm 5:12, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 106:4
15. He lives forever: Isaiah 57:15
16. He is powerful: Psalm 147:5, Isaiah 40:38, Isaiah 44:6
17. He is our strength: Exodus 15:2, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 46:1-3
18. He is able to do all things: Genesis 18:14, Job 42:2, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, Ephesians 3:20-21
19. He is faithful: Psalm 13:5-6, Psalm 91:4, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Timothy 2:13, 1 John 1:9
20. He will never leave you: Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:9, Hebrews 13:10

We can change our life through the choices that we make. We can choose to go with the flow or settle for whatever life throws our way. Or we can choose to remember our job description found in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. So no matter what life circumstance you are facing today, use the month of November to choose to be thankful. Even if your marriage is falling apart, your kids are making foolish choices, you are miserable at your job or your friend has wounded you. Even if… fill in the blank. Use these 22 reasons can turn your life around. Read them over and over. Speak them out loud. Believe them in your heart. Be thankful for these promises!

Other Thanksgiving Posts:

OPL: Thankful Box   Check out this post for fun family activities to do together

OPL: Be Thankful