At times, giving thanks is obvious and as easy to do as breathing in and out.

For example, TODAY, November 21st is a permanent date on my calendar to celebrate, be joyful and give thanks to God for the incredible gift of my son James Tyler! I do not have to think about it, put any extra effort in to it, be reminded of it or set any alarms on my phone to remind me to do it! I simply wake up on November 21st every year and give enormous thanks to my God for giving me my wonderful son, Tyler!

But as easy as it is to give thanks to God for my son, there are other situations, relationships and occurrences where the last thing on my mind is giving thanks!

Yet, I am asked by my Heavenly Father to give thanks for both the good and the bad, the easy and the hard, the obvious and the discrete, and the lovely and the unlovely!

“Give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  

I Thessalonians 5:18

This verse may not be one of the most quoted or most popular verses around the Thanksgiving table or during the Thanksgiving season, but it is nonetheless a request from God himself!

So why would God, who knows us best and loves us most, ask us to do something seemingly unnatural and very difficult? 

I believe the answer is two fold.

Number one, God knows that we need Him to accomplish it. And, number two, God knows that when we practice what makes it possible, we end up focusing on Him and His power and not our own!

As I see it, the only way to give thanks in all circumstances, even the hard ones, is to first give thanks for all of our blessings and good things!

For example, when I woke up this morning and gave thanks to God for another birthday for my son Tyler, it was easier for me to then give Him thanks for another person in my life that is more difficult to get along with.

It then reminded me that I could even give God thanks for the extra patience and endurance that loving that person requires of me.

TRUTH BOMB

WE ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL FOR US WHEN WE GIVE THANKS NO MATTER WHAT!

Friends, when we develop a spiritual muscle of giving thanks to God when it’s obvious and easy, that same muscle will help us practice giving thanks in all circumstances even when it’s difficult so that we can accomplish God‘s will for us in Christ Jesus!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS!

I am giving thanks to God for all of you!

And it’s EASY!

Speak Truth Love