Give Thanks!

Has anyone ever told you that “You need to stop and smell the roses”? We get so busy sometimes that we forget to appreciate the little things, and this is especially true when it comes to what God has given us. We are told,  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jas. 1:17). If all the good things that we have come from God, should we not stop and take some time to enjoy and give thanks for what we have?

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes. 5:18). Everything means everything, from the least to the greatest. From getting a good night’s sleep to the jobs that we have, God works in the smallest things. Even those seemingly insignificant prayers that we sometimes pray ought to be remembered when they are answered, like wanting traffic to clear so we won’t be late for work.

From the very small to the most awesome, thankfulness for our Creator should constantly be on our lips. The Psalmist was correct in saying, “Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence” (Ps. 140:13). Because of God’s mercy and saving grace we are able to go directly to Him with our wants and cares. We need not only to ask of God, but to spend time in thanksgiving to Him, realizing that we have been given the greatest gift of all, eternal life. “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding” (1 Cor. 14:15). May we always understand the importance of giving thanks to God.