The Sanctifying Power of Thanksgiving

I Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJ)
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

One thing both believers and nonbelievers have in common is in recognizing the importance of being thankful. Most children are taught from a very early age to say “thank you” as a show of respect and appreciation. It is an action that creates positive feelings in all situations.

But for the believer it is much more than just the positive connection that the world experiences. It is a directive from the Lord. Numerous scriptures reflect a command when talking about thanksgiving (I Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 107:1,). Also, unlike the world, believers are required to give thanks in all situations, good or bad. So, the question is, why does the Lord make this a command and not just a suggestion? And, why in EVERYTHING are we told to give thanks???

A well-known minister of the gospel shared a message where he answered that question. As with everything God does, when He makes a command, He is trying to get something to us, not just seeing if we will jump through some spiritual hoop to please Him. This minister said that giving thanks has a sanctifying effect on our circumstances. According to Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary, one meaning of sanctify is to “set apart or appoint for a holy purpose.” Based on this definition, when we give thanks to the Lord in negative circumstances, we are opening the door for the Lord to act on our behalf.  This minister frames the importance of thanksgiving in this way: giving thanks in difficult situations removes the situation from the enemy’s hand; thereby “setting apart” our circumstances from the enemy and allowing them to be used for “a holy purpose” – God’s Purpose.

This minister showed the progression that occurs when we give thanks.  First, to give thanks in a challenging or heart-breaking situation requires that we acknowledge and focus on the nature of God – His goodness and His predisposition to always extend mercy and grace no matter what the situation. Without that focus we can be pulled in any number of directions – none of which will give us the help we need. Secondly, as we focus of the nature of God, hope is released into whatever situation we are facing; and according to Romans 5:5, Bible hope (meaning earnest expectation) does not disappoint. When hope is born within us, faith can arise and when that occurs, we are back on God’s turf!

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God’s plan for us is to give us a future and a hope. When we face difficult and sometimes seemingly impossible situations, it is hard to believe that. But by choosing to focus on the goodness of God, we are then able to release a “sacrifice” of thanksgiving.  Sacrifice means it costs us something. Giving thanks in the midst of pain is an offering to God, a surrendering of that pain and of all we don’t understand, to a God who understands all. We are giving it to the One who is committed to taking what the enemy meant for harm and turning it to our good (Genesis 50:20). In everything give thanks and watch what God will do!!!

5/25