We have a problem saying "thanks" sometimes often being carnally minded and not having the right perspective by nature. We so often teach our children thank you, but not in all things. We too balk and are not sure about that! Yet, the Word of God stands in this demand. Be thankful in ALL things! The problem is not giving thanks lies within us.

This is the will of God. "Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and give thanks. A triad. We seem to have a problem with the latter as it pertains to ALL things. We have issues with the "negative" things. The Word of God comes to us however telling us to be thankful in all things all the time! Often times the closest we get is praying "help us Lord to bear it." The apostle Paul too had a "thorn in the flesh" and was told to be thankful as God's grace was sufficient. Joseph giving up Benjamin without joy in his soul. Asaph in the Psalms who was unthankful as the wicked prospered while God seemed to lay His hands on His people. Or a Jonah who was unhappy about going to Nineveh and even moped under the juniper tree. We can numerate the "good" and the "bad" too, but let us give thanks in ALL these things. It IS the will of God! What is the will of God? It is His will that we rejoice forever, that we are a praying people, and that we give thanks in EVERYTHING. It is His will that we are thankful because we are in Christ Jesus! We are adopted children of God in Christ and in Him we have EVERTHING! We have forgiveness, everlasting life, the treasure without measure! All in Christ! Everything we have (or don't have) both the good and the bad is ALWAYS the grace of God to us because we are in Christ. It has to be! All things are for our sake that we may be to the praise of God forevermore!

Read Romans 8.....ALL things work together for OUR GOOD! We can begin to understand then that God lovingly deals with us in Christ Jesus. And having that perspective allows us even on this day to rejoice no matter what we have...or for what we do not have. Grace has NOTHING to do with things! Only then, when we see this can we rejoice and be thankful realizing 1) that we are ALWAYS the recipients being dependant creatures. We can do nothing and we stand in complete and total dependence on God. 2) We have received freely from God, our heavenly Father who has us in His heart of hearts. So much so that He gave His only Son for YOU!