Be thankful in all circumstances

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In all circumstances! This comes as a surprise when one considers the vicissitudes of human life. Sickness and health, poverty and wealth, joy and sorrow–are all ingredients of the cup placed to human lips–so all must come within the scope of thanksgiving. Why be thankful for everything? Because God causes everything to work together for good to those who love Him.

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A godly farmer was asked to dine with a well-known gentleman. While there, he asked a blessing at the table as he was accustomed to do at home.
His host said jeeringly, “That is old fashioned; it is not customary nowadays for well-educated people to pray before they eat.”
The farmer answered that with him it was customary–but that some of those on his farm never thanked God their food.
“Ah, then,” said the gentleman, “they are sensible and enlightened! Who are they?”
“My pigs!” the farmer answered.

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Charles Dickens said that we are somewhat mixed up here in America. He told an audience that instead of having one Thanksgiving Day each year, we should have 364. “Use that one day just for complaining and griping,” he said. “Use the other 364 days to thank God each day for the many blessings He has showered upon you!”

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“Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life.
 Appreciate and never take for granted, all that God has given us.”

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Some years ago an old black woman was put up at auction at a slave-market. She was distressed lest she might be sold to a cruel master. A godly man bought her and set her free at once. But she would not leave him who had set her free–and insisted upon going into his household and working for him. Now when she could do what she pleased–she would not go anywhere but to him. She would say: “He saved me! He saved me!”
This is how we ought to feel toward Him who died for us and set us free.

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“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

For Christ who came from Heaven above,
For the cross and His redeeming love,
For His mighty power to seek and save,
For His glorious triumph o’er the grave.
For the lovely mansions in the sky,
For His blessed coming bye and bye–
I give Thee humble thanks.

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I wish we may all learn to be more thankful to our gracious Provider, and more sensible of His hand and goodness in every morsel of bread we eat. How soon could He starve us–and how justly have we deserved it!

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I have heard of a holy old woman in a cottage, who had nothing but a piece of bread and a little water; and lifting up her hands in thanks, she said, “What! all this, and Christ too?”

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We shall have cause to be thankful for all our afflictions–if the Lord is pleased to employ them as means to make us more humble and broken-hearted, and to wean our hearts from this vain world.

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So long as we are receivers of divine mercy–we must be givers of thanks.

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“Let us be thankful!” Hebrews 12:28

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“Overflowing with thankfulness!” Colossians 2:7

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Have a blessed Thanksgiving day!

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For further reading: You may want to ponder William Nicholson's two page article, “Thanksgiving“.

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