An Attitude of Thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 1:2

The apostle Paul personified the attitude of thanksgiving in prayer.  He begins nearly every one of his epistles with words of thanks and praise to God.  Paul maintained this attitude in the midst of hardships and imprisonments,  We should imitate Paul as we recognize our indebtedness to God for the gift of life itself and for His providence in sustaining us.

Paul viewed thanksgiving as a duty saying, "We ought always to give thanks to God... as is only fitting."  The apostle tells us to share his viewpoint.  In 1 Thess. 5:18 he commands us to give thanks in everything saying such is God's will for those who are in Christ.  As we strive to be truly thankful in prayer let us consider Paul's instructions:

• Our thanksgiving should be continuous (1 Thess. 1:2).  We ought to always be ready to pray and alert for opportunities to pray (Col. 4:2).
• Our thanksgiving should be inclusive, for all the saints.  Paul did not leave anyone out in 1 Thess. 1:2 but said, "We give thanks to God always for all of you."
• Our thanksgiving should be informed.  A believer must exercise his memory in prayer.  When Paul says, "making mention of you...", he means remembering each one by name.

Like Paul, we have much to be thankful for, most of all for our brothers and sisters in the church.  This life can sometimes be a struggle.  Paul is proof of that, but our fellowship with one another and our common love in Christ gives us abundant reasons to be thankful.  The next time we kneel before God in prayer let us remember all we have to be thankful for.

Thomas Sneed