Heather Norman Smith
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Fiction
    • Nonfiction
  • Speaking
  • Music
    • Original Songs
    • Performances
  • Blog
Picture

Giving Thanks Always

10/31/2017

0 Comments

 
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5:20
As we enter the month of November and near the holiday we call Thanksgiving, I am reminded that every day in the life of a Christian should be a day of thanksgiving.

The scripture says it very clearly in Ephesians 5:20. The verse answers three important questions about thankfulness: when, what, and to whom.

When do we give thanks? ALWAYS.
For what do we give thanks? ALL THINGS.
To whom do we give thanks? GOD.

Having an “attitude of gratitude” is not just a catch phrase. It’s not just a good idea, although it is. It is a commandment of scripture. We are to give thanks to God always, for everything.

There is a well-known story about the famous bible commentator Matthew Henry having his wallet stolen. While there’s debate about the accuracy of how Henry was quoted, the story is a good illustration either way. It’s said that after he was robbed, Henry thanked God in his diary for four things: that he had never been robbed before; that they took his wallet only and not his life; that he didn’t have much in his wallet to be stolen; and, that he was the one who was robbed and not the one robbing.

An attitude of thanksgiving helps us put any situation into the right perspective.

In Luke, we are given a great example of thankfulness to God in the beautiful story of ten lepers cleansed by Jesus. It’s a familiar story, and there is much we can analyze and learn from it. But focusing just on the idea of thankfulness, let’s look at what the one leper out of ten did to show thankfulness.

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…” (Luke 17:15-16)

First, he wasn’t quiet with his praise. He didn’t slip Jesus a note. He didn’t whisper his appreciation. He cried with a loud voice, glorifying God! Like this man, we should be willing to proclaim the goodness of God in a way that others can see and hear.

Secondly, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, with his face to the ground. This was a scene of complete humility. When we give thanks, it must be done with the attitude that God alone is worthy of thanks for every good thing, and it is nothing of ourselves.

Teaching on this passage, Charles Spurgeon said, “External religious exercises are easy enough, and common enough; but the internal matter, the drawing out of the heart in thankful love, how scarce a thing it is!”
​

My prayer, in this season of thankfulness and all the time, is that the “drawing out of the heart in thankful love” will not be a scarce thing in my life. I pray the Holy Spirit will prompt us all to live in a state of continual thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:20
0 Comments

    About the Blog

    Thank you for visiting my blog. I share devotional articles and musings about life, parenting, and the writing journey, as well as important news about my books. I hope you find something of interest here!

    #carselfie
    Heather Norman Smith

    Click below to sign up for my email newsletter, which includes links to my latest blog posts. Thank you!
    Newsletter Sign-up

    Categories

    All
    Bible Study
    Books
    Christmas
    Devotions
    Encouragement
    Foster Care
    Ministry
    My Life
    Parenting
    Prayer
    Spiritual Growth
    Theology
    Writing


    Archives

    August 2024
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    March 2016
    January 2016
    May 2014
    April 2014
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Southern Writers Suite T button

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2024
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Fiction
    • Nonfiction
  • Speaking
  • Music
    • Original Songs
    • Performances
  • Blog