Thanksgiving – Living Life with Gratitude in Our Hearts – Colossians 3:16-17

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” – Colossians 3:16-17. 

Thanksgiving grows as the word of Christ dwells in us richly and as we endeavor to live our lives under the banner of Jesus Christ.

Every Christian believer has a tremendous amount to be thankful for. Paul reminds us: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

A key evidence that a Christian is truly “filled with the Spirit” is that this person is habitually “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” – Ephesians 5:20.

Paul was a man with a lot of gratitude. As the word of Christ dwells in us more and more, we too will be people with overflowing gratitude. We should make it a daily matter of prayer to be thankful to the Father. If we make thankfulness a priority we will be amazed at how often we can find ourselves pausing to thank God throughout the course of the day.

Living life with gratitude in our hearts is a response to what God has done and is doing in and through our lives and the lives of others that we pray for. When we live lives of gratitude, we will increase our worship time, we will grow in our ability to encourage others, and we will be more effective in evangelism. In other words, we will in effect be living our lives for the glory of God and the good of others 

The Bible gives many reasons why every day should be “Thanksgiving” for Christians. Here are some of them:

• “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:8-9
• “Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise?” Psalm 106:1-2
• “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30
• “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
• “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Psalm 100:4
• “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.” Psalm 105:1-3

Note the connection in this last psalm of thanksgiving between giving thanks and calling on God, singing to God, telling others about God, and a heart that rejoices in God. 

This “Thanksgiving” and always:

Let us sing for joy to the LORD,

Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great God and a great King above all gods.

PSALM 95:1-3