“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Do you find giving thanks in everything easy or hard? I’ve found it one of the most difficult things to do as a Christian, yet God makes it clear that it’s His will for us in Christ Jesus! What do I need to know about giving thanks that will help me give thanks in everything? Let’s first get some perspective about giving thanks from God’s Word.
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What should our response be to God’s continual provision and protection? Thanksgiving! God has called His people to be be thankful in all we do and say. It’s at the heart of how we should respond to God in our lives “in everything.”
Here’s a brief journey of thanksgiving, beginning with Israel after God freed them from slavery in Egypt and continuing until the day we are all together in Heaven under the eternal care of our Heavenly Father.
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Thanksgiving is a wonderful time each year for remembering the great things God has done for us. It brings families together to enjoy one another and remember good times in their lives. Our prayer is that this E-Book will be a blessing to you and your family.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Mark McGee
GraceLife Ministries
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It’s hard to believe that Christmas is next week! Where has 2009 gone? It’s interesting as I drive around town to see so many people who are unhappy and stressed. Drivers are becoming more aggressive and less patient. Shoppers are moving faster and with less satisfaction. We see lighting displays all around the area that include the word “joy” in the message, but where is the joy? Where’s the peace and joy we believe comes with the Christmas season?
Here’s some insight from the Bible:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
It may seem too simple to be true, but I believe it is. Joy comes with being inside God’s will for our lives. One of the most-asked questions I’ve heard from Christians since I was saved is “How can I know God’s will for my life?” God’s answer is simple, direct and powerful!
When we live our lives in this way, God can easily and clearly point us to other areas of His will for our lives. The difficult decisions about what to do, where to go, who to marry, etc., will become clear as we understand what it means for Christ to be “in” us and us to be “in” Christ. The Will of God lives in us and guides us. Ours is to listen, obey and enjoy.
What does this have to do with Christmas? Jesus came from Heaven to earth to bring us joy! Remember what the angels sang when they announced the birth of Jesus Christ –
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ’Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:8-14
The angels of Heaven brought the people of earth “good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” Notice the angel used the words “great joy.” Most of us have experienced joy in our lives, but what the Jesus brings us a message of great joy.
Where’s the joy? It’s in Jesus! If Jesus is your Savior and you are in His will for your life, you will experience great joy.
Blessings!
Mark McGee
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Good morning and welcome to Thanksgiving Day! As I consider the meaning of this special day, my thoughts turn to the Amazing Grace of our loving God. What He has done for me, for all of us, is beyond words of gratitude. He has given so much of Himself and His creation to us. He gave us air to breathe, water to drink and food to eat. He also gave us family, friends, and brothers and sisters in the Faith.
Yes, one of the great things He has done for all of us … is you! You are a blessing to me and every member of the Body of Christ.
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”
Romans 1:8 (NKJV)
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 1:4
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
Philippians 1:3
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.”
Colossians 1:3
“… remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.”
1 Thessalonians 1:3
“For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God?”
1 Thessalonians 3:9
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3
“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day.”
2 Timothy 1:3
“I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers.”
Philemon 1:4
The Apostle Paul thanked God for the Christian brothers and sisters in his life. He began many of his letters with that spirit of thankfulness. Paul’s words were rich and encouraging to those who received his letters. Paul felt thankful deep in his soul and understood the importance of sharing his thanks with those who were special in his life.
We need more of that in the Body of Christ: being thankful for our brothers and sisters and telling them, often. Life’s rough enough as it is. Most people don’t feel appreciated for who they are and what they do in families and communities. Unfortunately, most Christians don’t feel appreciated in their local churches. Why is that? Is it because Christians really aren’t thankful for other believers? Maybe with some, but many Christians are thankful. So why don’t they share their thankfulness? Is it because we get very busy with our own concerns and take others for granted or just forget to say thanks? I think that’s a big part of it.
A friend of mine calls it being “other-centered,” rather than “self-centered.” Being “other-centered” works in marriages, parenting and with fellow believers. It’s understanding the work and efforts of others and regularly sharing your thankfulness to them. It also helps the entire Body of Christ to share your thankfulness to individuals openly to the whole church. Look at what Paul did.
“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”
Romans 16:1-13
Paul understood the Lord’s Work and how to get it done. Paul passed the philosophy along to us through his writings. Here are three basics of doing God’s Work that we should publish in bold letters in every place where Christians meet throughout the world.
I thank my God for every one of you reading this. I encourage you to sit down this week and make a “Thanks” list for other Christians in your life. Write their names on a piece of paper and what they’ve done that causes you to be thankful for them (just like Paul did in Romans 16). Do one of a couple of things the next time you’re at church. Read your list aloud during a sharing time or (if public speaking makes you nervous) make copies of your list and hand out to the people you want to thank. Give your pastor a copy, too (since his name should be on any Christian’s list).
Think about what would happen this Sunday if thousands of Christians stood up in churches around the world and shared their thanks for others in the Body of Christ! That one action could begin a revival of heart and soul across the land. But don’t stop there. Remember Paul. He shared his thanks for other believers over and over again; year after year. Being thankful is not something you do one time. Keep sharing your thankfulness with your husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandson, granddaughter, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, cousin, pastor, elders, deacons, praise team members, Bible teachers, class members, nursery workers, children’s workers, youth workers, friends … everybody! People work for the Lord and they know the Lord is thankful for what they do, but they also want to know that you are thankful, too. Share the joy!
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:6-7
Happy Thanksgiving!
In Christ’s Love and Grace,
Mark McGee
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Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. It’s a time set aside every year in the United States to consider the many gifts God has given us and to share words of Thanksgiving with Him and our family and friends.
I received a business call yesterday from Australia. The person calling wished me Happy Thanksgiving and said they wished their country had a similar holiday where everyone would be thankful for what they have. We do have a lot to be thankful for in the United States, but Christians can be thankful wherever they live. Being thankful as a child of God is a natural outgrowth of our new life in Jesus Christ. However, God knows and understands the many battles we have with our flesh and lovingly guides us toward this amazing Truth. It is important to be thankful.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Have you ever gone through some tough financial times? Ever had a deep concern about someone in your family? Ever struggled with sin? Ever faced a medical emergency? Have you ever thought your world was going to collapse beneath the weight of your problems? Sure you have. We all have. That’s part of life in this world. Nobody escapes trouble. But there’s a difference between how Christians and non-Christians deal with the trouble: Christ is in us!
Being a child of God is more than a name. It’s an opportunity to share our lives with the God of Life, Jesus Christ. He’s our Lord and Savior, He’s our God, He’s our Counselor, He’s our closest Friend. Jesus understands the problems of this world thoroughly. He has walked in our shoes far more than a mile. He’s been there … done that. He knows what it’s like to be human and deal with human problems. He’s the perfect Man and never sinned, but he still faced our problems.
Christ’s answer to our troubles is, “Be anxious for nothing.” Jesus knows how easy it is for the human heart and mind to worry. He knows how upset we can get. He knows how anxiety can destroy us over time. He knows how it clouds our thinking and feeling and causes us to lose focus about what’s really important in life.
Jesus gives us four steps to deal with troubles that cause anxiety. This list starts with Philippians 4:4. That’s the context for our study.
I want to spend a few moments with you about the last part of Step 4: “with thanksgiving.” Why did God say that? Why do we need thanksgiving as part of our prayer requests?
Christians are human. We are sinners saved by God’s Grace. What makes us different from others in the world is our special relationship to God. He is our Loving Heavenly Father. We are His children, members of the Body of His Son Jesus Christ. We are co-heirs with Christ. We have lots of potential, but we still live in bodies of clay. We fight with thoughts of discouragement and anxiety. The Apostle Paul wrote about wanting to do one thing but doing the opposite. He wrote about dragging the old man around with him like it was a corpse. This is true. We are “between” mortality and immortality. We are “between” being sinners in this world and being “like” Christ in heaven. We are in a transition period. That’s tough because nothing is quite like it ought to be. We are alive in Christ, but we aren’t free of the physical death that surrounds us. We are aware of the spiritual light God has given us, but we still live in a world of spiritual darkness. We have every spiritual blessing, but we still struggle in this world.
God wants us to THINK differently. He knows our “thoughts” can do us in. We “think” the wrong things, “believe” the wrong things, “do” the wrong things. Being anxious is the wrong thing. It’s evidence we’re not “relying” on Christ in us. What’s God’s advice for dealing with that? Pray! Okay, we pray but we still worry. Now what? Pray differently. Pray “with thanksgiving.”
Worry and anxiety are negative ways of thinking. Giving thanks is a positive way of thinking. Being negative is one of the major things sin did to mankind. Being positive is what the Holy Spirit wants to do for us. Adults have spent decades thinking negatively. Changing our way of thinking won’t happen over night. You’ll have a little victory and then suffer a big defeat. You’ll have another victory and another defeat. What should happen is that we trust the Christ Who lives in us.
One of the positive things giving thanks does for us is cause our minds to “rehearse” the good things Christ has done for us. The process of remembering the positives in our lives builds a reservoir of positive thoughts that can balance out the number of negative thoughts we have in a day. Think about that for a minute. You and I hear scores of negative things every day. We hear them at work, at school, at home, around the neighborhood. We think our own negative thoughts dozens of times a day. We have a huge storehouse of negativity built up in our minds. We have to do something to counter that. That’s where praying with thanksgiving comes in. We have to have some balance. If we think about 200 negative things a day, for instance, we need scores of positive thoughts to counter that.
What happens when you thank God? You begin to feel better. You become calm. You become less anxious. You worry less. You place things in proper perspective. You realize you’re pretty fortunate afterall. You see things are better than you thought. You start the process of rejoicing. It begins with being thankful.
God takes our thankfulness and positive thinking and uses it to build a wall of peace around our minds. The more we thank God, the higher and thicker that wall gets. We stop thanking God for awhile and let the negative thoughts of worry and anxiety into our minds again and the wall of peace gets pretty thin. We must remember that we are “in” Christ and He is “in” us.
Do whatever it takes. Spend whatever time you need to be thankful each day to offset the worry and anxiety that can overtake you. Some days are tougher than others. What’s at stake here is your well-being and your enjoyment of Christ in you. God’s willing and able to guard your mind. He wants to give you a peace that transcends all understanding. You part is to pray with thanksgiving.
You may want to begin by writing all of the things you are thankful for in life. The list should be long. Once you’ve written everything you can think of, think about it throughout your day. Get to the point that praying with thanksgiving becomes natural. Thanksgiving will be in the front of your mind and on the tip of your tongue at all times. It will make a difference in how you think and how you speak to others. People around you will notice what a positive, thankful, gentle, joyful person you are. They will see that you are “in” Christ and He is “in” you.
May God bless you and your family richly is my prayer.
Mark McGee
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