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"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Ephesians 5:20)
Being thankful is very therapeutic! Thankful people are much more prone to be healthy, active, optimistic, and overall fun to be around. Someone who is pessimistic, sad continually, and complaining constantly, that person is not thankful for what they have but is only concerned with what they do not have. If this is you, then I hope that today you move from being sad, mad, and bad to a place of being joyful and glad.
Here are some practical tips for you that I hope assist you on your journey to being continually thankful:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. This is the context of today's biblical text. Ephesians 5:18 states, "Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit." How do you do this? It is something we can have happen to us because God commands that we receive the filing of His Spirit. Here are the four R's I pray every day: Recognize, Repent, Request, and Receive. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then you will be filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Ungratefulness is not one of the nine fruits of the Spirit!
- Let your thanksgiving be frequent. Ephesians 5:20 says to give thanks always. The people of God should be in a constant state of thankfulness. P.T. O'Brien writes, "God's people, both corporately and individually, are to have a thankful attitude of mind and heart which comes to expression regularly in thanksgiving and praise. Gratitude to God, which permeates their whole being, will be obvious as they express their praise of Him constantly." (O'Brien, P. T. (1999). The Letter to the Ephesians, p. 397–398. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
- Thank God during good times and bad. This is hard for all of us. Anyone can praise God when all is well, but when trouble strikes, in whatever form it comes, the natural tendency is to complain, compare, or feel sorry for oneself. But the better and much more therapeutic response is to praise and give thanks. Hebrews 13:15 calls this the sacrifice of praise: "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." We can trust God that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28) even when we suffer. Just because we are having a hard time and do not understand what God is up to does not mean that God is unfair or that He is no longer loving and compassionate. It just means we live in a fallen world, and suffering is a major part of it. No one, not even the Son of God, was spared suffering.
- Stay focused on God at all times. I love how Paul in this Trinitarian text instructs in Ephesians 5:20: "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 3:17 states, "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." A prayer discipline I practice that really helps me in this area is praying the Scriptures I read in the morning back to God throughout the day. Try it for yourself.
- Remember, things will get better! There is a very high probability that this too shall pass. Whatever it is that is troubling you will, like the clouds in the sky, today's problems often dissipate over time, and brighter days ensue. But even if they don't, then keep in mind as a child of God where you are heading! You can always be thankful for heaven.
Recently, the Auburn Football Team signed former University of Oklahoma All-Big12 first team selection Tight End, Grant Calcaterra. Tom Green writes, "The 6-foot-4 tight end has not played since Oct. 5, 2019, when injuries cut his junior season short after five games. He announced last November that he was stepping away from football due to a series of concussions he had sustained over his career." Notice the mature and grateful response this young man posted on Twitter: "A year ago, I would've never pictured my life the way it is now. I don't believe in bad situations, just opportunities for growth. I'm more than grateful for this past year, but even more excited for my future challenges." What a great attitude of gratitude! (Source.)
Have a blessed weekend. When the temptation comes to be angry, upset, or pessimistic, choose thankfulness. It is so therapeutic. I am praying for you even now that God would help you. Please pray for me that I would do the same!
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