This morning I woke up to the sun casting an awakening glow in the bedroom and a refreshing cool breeze coming through the open windows while the birds were chirping in the towering oak trees in our back yard. And in that moment it was easy to be content in the stillness of the morning. But then, as I rose and got out of bed the aches and pains of hard work and getting old became the reality, and I began to lose focus of that thankfulness mindset that was present only a few minutes before. And then I thought “This is the day which the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24, NASB) and that verse helped to reminded me of the fact that God is the Creator of all things and that regardless of our circumstances we are called to rejoice and to be thankful. So today, I want to focus on ten reasons to be thankful for today and every day.
1. We are to be thankful because God calls us to be thankful “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).
2. We are to be thankful because God is the creator of all things “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
3. We are to be thankful because God is sovereign and in full control. “Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord, Let’s shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let’s come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, let’s shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are also His. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come, let’s worship and bow down, let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand” (Psalm 95:1-7).
4. We are to be thankful because God cannot be shaken. “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
5. We are to be thankful because God and His promises never change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
6. We are to be thankful because God Loves us. “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 106:1).
7. We are to be thankful because God is merciful and forgiving. “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7).
8. We are to be thankful because God is our salvation for those who believe. “Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; who pardons all your guilt, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with favor and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle” (Psalm 103:1-5).
9. We are to be thankful because God gives us peace. “Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:15-17).
10. We are to be thankful because we have everlasting Joy in the Lord. “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are those who comply with His testimonies, and seek Him with all their heart. They also do no injustice; they walk in His ways. You have ordained Your precepts, that we are to keep them diligently. Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Then I will not be ashamed when I look at all Your commandments. I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; do not utterly abandon me!” (PSALM 119:1-8).
So today, I pray that you walk with the Lord and remember to thankful in all circumstances. “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Colossians 2:6-7).