Worship Devotional - "Thanksgiving and the Will"

Key Scripture: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Reflection

Thanksgiving is God's will for us, and our will is involved in the process of being thankful. Choice is a God-given gift that we exercise daily, and developing a lifestyle of thanksgiving requires intentional decisions. Our salvation gives us the potential for gratitude, but our will determines whether we develop it.

Very often our minds are conditioned to give thanks only when things are going well, but this isn't the essence of biblical thanksgiving. True thanksgiving is deeply rooted in the revelation that God has chosen us, loves us, and is continually working in and through us regardless of whether circumstances are good or bad.