As a nation, we have just celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. For Christians, however, rather than being limited to a day, thanksgiving should be a continual lifestyle:
"By Him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Heb. 13:15-16
God considers our continual thanksgiving, above, to be a pleasing sacrifice. Thanksgiving becomes a sacrifice because not all of our natural circumstances are conducive to offering thanks. These challenging occasions especially, however, are the most important occasions through which to give our thanks. This is when our thanksgiving to God becomes that much more precious to Him, as we recognize beforehand His promises to us of His merciful deliverance and provision.
As those who are living in the End Times, our lifestyle of thanksgiving to God becomes even more important:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief...ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit." 1 Thess. 5:1-2, 5b, 16-19
In the believer's lifestyle taught in the whole chapter of 1 Thess. 5, thanksgiving plays an important role.
Another very important aspect of a lifestyle of thanksgiving, although it is often a neglected one, is thanksgiving for those who have been given to us by God to have spiritual authority over us:
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you....And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves."
Heb. 13:17, 1 Thess. 5:12-13
Our prayer and thanksgiving in this regard, for those in spiritual authority over us, can have a direct impact not only on our own lives, but also on the course of their ministry, as Paul states in Heb. 13:18-19:
"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner."
A lifestyle of thanksgiving to God involves not only an attitude of prayer, but also one of declaration to others as David exemplified:
"I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together....Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk you of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth...Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations." Ps. 34:1-3, I Chron. 16:8-12, 15
Not only should the LORD's wonderful works be surrounded with our thanksgiving, but also His name, His word, and His covenant given to us. Our lifestyle of declarations of thanksgiving are not only profitable to us, but give joy and strength to the humble who hear them.
On the other hand, failure to give thanks to God, though He has shown Himself as Creator to all men (Rom. 1:19-20), can have a catastrophic effect upon the soul:
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened...And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient..." Rom. 1:21, 28
A long list of evil thoughts and behaviors grow out of the lack in a person's life of thankfulness towards God (v. 29-32). God's people, who know His word, and His works, should not be among those who refuse to thank Him. God has made precious promises to those who do think of Him, and are thankful to Him:
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. "And they shall be Mine", saith the LORD of hosts, "in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth Him not." Mal. 3:18-18
Again, as prophesied to Malachi, above, these things are especially important in these Last Days (see Mal. 4:1).
Thanksgiving is not just a day, but a lifestyle.
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