“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The presence or absence of thankfulness in your heart in your daily cross bearing, in your daily battle for Christ is something that you need to take time and examine. As I write this, you may wonder- “Wait, Pastor. Are you saying I should be thankful for the battles and suffering in my life?” Yes, but there’s more. It’s good and right for you to be thankful to your Creator, Redeemer, and Lord for all things. Yes, it’s good to thank God that He has called you to take up your cross and follow Christ down the battle ridden path of suffering that leads to glory. (Luke 9:23) It’s good to thank Him that He has counted you worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name. (Acts 5:41) It’s also good and right to be thankful to God for who He is, His works, His saving grace to you in Christ, His sustaining grace, His promises, His daily mercies to you, your daily bread from His hand, as well as His many blessings to you, even and especially in the details, the small joys and victories in your life that you may often overlook.
As you know well, the battle for thankfulness is in your heart and mind. There are many today that desire to both lure you into and keep you in the pits of ingratitude. They want you to be consumed and ruled by self and its insatiable desires that drive you away from Christ. They want you to destroy yourself and others in the cauldrons of anger and rage, tearing each other apart. They desire you to wallow in the pits of despair and depression, as your anger is turned inward. Thus, it’s good to learn more about being thankful in the battle!
Many also desire you to be paralyzed in spin cycles of anxiety and under the heavy burdens of stress. In many ways, these pits and struggles are fueled by ingratitude, and under-girded by pride and the insecurities pride creates in your heart. Thus, you must grow in thankfulness and other skills in the battle! Wage the good warfare, Beloved. (1 Timothy 1:18-19) Keep following your King as He leads you down the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake!
As you do, be mindful that one of the big characteristics of a godless life is thanklessness. The Apostle Paul teaches you this in Romans 1:21 “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” The world around you exalts the proud and despises the humble. Once one rejects God, they become an arrogant, thankless creature.
Knowing the thankless heart you once had and the reality that there’s no neutrality, be refreshed today by the truth in contrast that one of the big characteristics, one of the disciplines and fruit of a godly heart is thankfulness. This is part of your cultivated life of communion with God. Therefore, praise your Lord and Savior for His paying for your sin of ingratitude, freeing you from bondage to it. Praise Him for the Spirit wrought gratitude He has given you and seek His grace to grow in expressing it every day.
Why should you? Because Christ calls you to. Consider Paul’s words to the saints in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. When you have mercy by prayer, then you are to give thanks. Everything you have- your very being, breath, and life are from the Lord. You have every reason to give thanks, and no excuse not to! Further, giving God thanks should be important to you because, as Paul says, “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Seeing Jesus has reconciled you to the Father; in Him, through Him, and for His sake, He works in you by His Spirit to rejoice and appoints you to give thanks in and for everything.
Think about the following 3 fruit of the Spirit, as well as compassion and courage, and how they are well connected with thankfulness in the battle. I also want to encourage you to use this worksheet to more thoughtfully consider how being thankful and these connections in battle are present or absent in your own heart, in your family, as well as the church.
- Thankfulness and Love- It’s true in every way that love is the greatest gift (1 Corinthians 13:13). Knowing this, it’s easy to see the connection between being thankful and love. You can rightly say that love is expressed from a thankful heart. You can also rightly say that being thankful is the fruit of a heart that has been transformed by the love of Christ, and therefore desires to express that love to others with gratitude. Remember what gratitude is. It’s being thankful, coupled with a readiness to show appreciation to others and return kindness. (1 Corinthians 13:4) And this belongs in the battlefield? Absolutely it does!
- Thankfulness and Peace- You may often desire peace in a variety of situations and relationships in your life but miss the work of thankfulness to God being part of what He uses to bring it about. When you go through conflict and there’s no peace with family, friends, your spouse, your children, your boss, co-workers, brethren at church, nor within your own heart, those can often times when gratitude is far from your mind. However, the truth of Thomas Watson’s words in his writing, The Ten Commandments, can be of great comfort to you – “The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.” (Matthew 8:23-27) Let that sink in.
- Thinking more about being thankful and peace, don’t let the stress of situations blind you to your need to be thankful in everything. It’s true that we aren’t to pray for suffering. However, as daily parts of the battle come there is always time and occasion to thank the Lord for His sanctifying work in the midst of them as His works out His providential purposes in and through you for His glory. Never forget that there is always an occasion to thank Him for His presence and grace in the valley. For even in the valleys, as Jesus is with you, His rod and staff comfort you. (Psalm 23)
- Therefore, stay close to Christ, be in the Word, and as the Spirit applies the truth of it to you, express your adoration and gratitude towards God in prayer with your petitions for His help. In fact, begin your prayer with such words. Thank Him for His person and work. Pray for His grace to be poured out more on others, as you like Paul, thank God for them and His work in them. Also, pray especially those you’re in conflict with, that both you and they would have peace. I know this can be hard, but as thankfulness is part of your daily prayer focus, by God’s grace you’ll experience greater and lasting peace. (Philippians 4:6-7)
- Thankfulness and Joy- As you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, as you grow in knowing Him, His love, and work for you, God gives and grows you in joy. As you grow in Christ, you will grow in being more and more thankful for your triune God, and that will lead you to rejoice and worship Him in the midst of the storms. The Spirit opens your lips and your mouth shows forth His praise! (Psalm 51:15)
- Thankfulness and Compassion- Yes, the thankful and grateful heart is one that is then moved with the compassion of Christ towards others who are weak and weary, being aware and thankful for the mercy, love, and compassion that Jesus has shown to you in your own battle worn weakness. Do you shy away from the weak and weary? Or does the report or sight of their weariness draw you towards them to help them? It’s a wonderful thing when the Lord uses you to come along side the downcast husband/father, to encourage and support the physically and spiritually exhausted wife/mother. It’s a blessing when God uses you to draw near to a young man or young woman to bind their wounds and provide patient wisdom and guidance. It’s a pleasure to warmly welcome those who have been starving for good Christian fellowship.
- Thankfulness and Courage- When you’re in the midst of the fray of warfare and the enemy is hot on your tail, in your face, or stoking temptation within, it’s important here too that you see the fruit that a humble and thankful heart brings as the Lord blesses you in being steady and courageous. You know your God and run to Him as your refuge and strong tower. You know your Savior and being thankful for His mercy and presence, you stand fully armored in Him. Indeed, Paul proclaimed the truth of triumph to Corinth in 2 Corinthians 2, that in and of yourself you are weak, have neither joy nor victory, and yet in Christ you may rejoice and triumph. He also taught the saints in Rome, along with teaching you today that you, as true believers, have the constant cause of triumph in Christ, for you are more than conquerors through Him who loved you. (Romans 8:37) Understanding this helps you all to be more faithful followers and Christian soldiers. Men, understanding this helps you to lead and fight the good fight in the specific ways God calls you to as well.
I hope you take time to ponder your need to be consistently thankful in your battle and walk with the Lord, and then actively seek to be so by His grace. Again, if this worksheet can be of practical help to you, please use it.
Works Cited:
Watson, Thomas. The Ten Commandments. Banner of Truth Trust, 2000