The Power of Giving Thanks

Snoopy from Charlie Brown fame was sitting in his doghouse grumbling to himself on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone else in the house was eating mashed potatoes, turkey, filling and other scrumptious food while he was stuck with his dog biscuits. Then he got a revelation that changed his attitude: “Come to think of it, I am thankful that I was not born a turkey!” Like Snoopy, I have learned a few things about giving thanks.

Being thankful is a decision: We do not give thanks because we feel like it; we choose to give thanks because it is the correct thing to do. The Bible tells us to be thankful (Colossians 3:15).

We give thanks because God is always good. No matter what we are going through in our lives, God is still good. And it could always be much worse! If we grumble instead of giving thanks, we are really saying, “If I were God, I would not do it this way.” Remember, He is God and we are not!

Giving thanks is the most effective way to find God’s will for our lives. The Bible tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances, this is the will of God in Christ” (1 Thess. 5:18). Ungrateful people find it hard to experience God’s will and purpose in their lives.

Thankfulness is powerful! It will change our lives. And for our American friends, have a blessed Thanksgiving!