by Erik Jones

Yesterday was the observance of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. It was a day specifically set aside to thank God for the blessings He has given. But giving thanks is not something that is only to be done by Americans once a year on the fourth Thursday in November. The Bible instructs all of us, no matter our nationality, to regularly give thanks to God for the blessings He gives us!

This verse instructs us to give “thanks always for all things.”

Here are two keys to giving thanks to God always:

1. Thanks should be given to God as a regular part of prayer. Paul wrote that prayer should be given “with thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:6). Giving thanks is intricately tied to praise toward God. The point is to honor and focus on God as the source of all good things. Read Colossians 1:12.
2. Thanks should be given for and to the important people in our lives. The apostle Paul set us an excellent example of expressing thanks for and to individuals. When writing to the members of the Church in Philippi, Paul began by telling them that he thanked “God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). Every time Paul thought of the Philippian brethren, he thanked God for them. Paul did this for other congregations as well, including the brethren in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:4) and Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:13).

For more thoughts on being in a constant attitude of thanksgiving, read our past Daily Bible Verse Blog “In Everything Give Thanks.”

Tomorrow on the Daily Bible Verse Blog: “Work and Be Happy.”