God tells us a lot in His word about being thankful. He also said, this is His will for us. When we are thankful, we are less likely to manifest negativity, hurt or anger. Being thankful and grateful for what God has done and for what He has given, is a far better place for us to be in, than in negativity, hurt or anger.
This does not mean that we should forget truth and be doormats to people. Jesus was angry and deeply hurt at times and had good reason for being so.
Mar 3:5 GW
Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held it out, and his hand became normal again.
Here we can see that Jesus was angry and deeply hurt, but I will deal more on this in another session.
Let us be thankful for what God has already done for us and for all the promises that lie ahead for us, in the New Kingdom that He has promised for us, where His love, His peace and righteousness will dwell. God has done and has promised so much, we should be thankful.
I would like to show you a passage in Acts 16 that had always amazed me, on how the early believers/Apostles dealt with things, in contrast to how we may deal with things today.
Paul and Silas were in prison. This could not have been, a very nice place or situation to be in. They did not do anything wrong, but speak the Word of God to people, and ended up being put in prison for it. Through the greed of others, they got whipped and were thrown in prison.
In a way, this still happens today. You may not get put into a physical prison or beaten physically with a whip, but spiritual they will try to prevent you from speaking God’s Word, and lash you with their tongues.
But what did Paul and Silas do?
Act 16:25 NKJV
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Most of us would probably moan about being in this type of situation, or we could learn from this example, by praying and singing to God.
The next verse tells us what happened.
Act 16:26 NKJV
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
If you read this passage in Acts 16, you will see that God delivered them, and the jailer and his household got saved immediately. What a record for our learning.
1Th 5:18 NKJV
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
This is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. We are told in this passage that in everything we are to be thankful, by giving of thanks. That means everything, it doesn’t matter what it is, or what we do, or what you are going through, we need to learn, to be thankful. The more we learn about God, the more we will understand what He has done, the more we will see His greatness, the more we will be thankful. This is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus, for us to be thankful. So let us learn to be thankful in all situations.
Colossians 3:17 NKJV
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.
It is God’s will for us, to be thankful. So whatever we do, whatever we say, let us be thankful, giving thanks to God in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The following verses are set in the context of the renewed mind.
Colossians 3:8-9 NKJV
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
Colossians 3:12-15
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
These are the actions/deeds of a thankful life. We are to forgive others, as Christ has forgiven us. We are to be humble and meek and not lie to one another. We are to be kind towards one another, showing great mercy, just as our heavenly Father has been kind and merciful towards us. We are to love one another with the love that God has given us in Christ Jesus. Let the peace of God rule in us, in place of anger, wrath, and malice of the world.
This is the thankful life that we are to have, being elected and called to of God and to live by it.
Colossians 3:16 NKJV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
We are to let these words dwell richly in us. By walking in the wisdom of God’s Word, in teaching and helping and admonishing one another, with spiritual songs and hymns, with grace in our hearts to the Lord!
So whatever we do in word or in action/deed, let us do this with thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:6 NKJV
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
In everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving . . . That’s thanksgiving, thanks-living. With a thankful heart, we are to make our requests known to God in prayer. We should not worry or be anxious. Let God take care of all of our needs and thank Him for His love and care.
Colossians 3:17 NKJV
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.
Let us be thankful..