The Power of Thanksgiving

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

It is not always easy to give thanks, but this is the very thing we must do in order to see God's will accomplished in our lives. This is how we move into higher realms of faith.

Thankfulness has so many incredible effects on our lives. Besides helping grow our faith and preventing a fear of lack, gratitude also refocuses our attitude, pushing out anxiety to replace it with peace.

You see, it's always easy to find problems. Very often, the enemy manages to get us murmuring and complaining, and our focus stays on the negative. We become problem-focused and develop an attitude that turns people off – very often, the people closest to us.

But when we practise thankfulness, that thankful attitude becomes an attractive force! In fact, developing a culture of thankfulness, not one focused on fault-finding or fixing everyone else, can cause our relationships, homes, our businesses and our church to move to the next level!

If you read Acts 16:16-34, Paul and Silas were imprisoned, whipped and bleeding, with stocks clamped around their feet in a dungeon. Nothing could be worse than this. Instead of complaining and grumbling, Paul and Silas choose to pray and sing hymns to God.

This attitude released the miracle power of God on their behalf.

Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (Acts 16:26 NLT)

Now, you don't need to give thanks for sickness, poverty or problems. But through it all, the choice to continually give thanks is yours, and "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your [heart] and [mind] through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7, NKJV)

Through my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I will continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of my lips. (Hebrews 13:15)