“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes. 5:18)

We have so very much to be thankful for!

An old church hymn I really love, written by Johnson Oatman, Jr., encourages believers to, "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings; see what God has done.”

Thanksgiving is a great time to do this each year!

“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1)

Think about how God has blessed you over this past year. If you need help coming up with a gratitude list, type into your search engine, “things to be thankful for,” to instantly find lots of lists that others have compiled that you can borrow from. You will probably be surprised to see lots of things listed that you have enjoyed over the year but have taken for granted, such as family and friends who are always there for you. Fresh air, sunshine, nourishing food to eat, having clean water, a warm shower, indoor heat, air conditioning, having a refrigerator & freezer in your home, a vehicle to drive, a dependable job, a bed, and a roof over your head. Just to name a few. As you look at these things, and are reminded of your blessings, thank God for each one. And remember they all came from Him to you (Phil 4:19).

Don’t forget to thank God for His greatest love gift to you, Jesus!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)

Thank God for His grace to you!

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:4)

Therefore

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2) 

“And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” (1 Chron. 29:13)

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11:29 ESV)

 All Christians are “called ones”

Calling defined: “The vocation or profession in which one customarily engages; a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence” (Webster). “The New Testament refers to the Christian life as a calling (Eph. 1:18; Eph. 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 3:1; 2 Pet. 1:10). The basic call is to Christ as Lord and Savior; thus, all Christians are “called ones.” It is employed in a comprehensive way to depict what has happened to those who through the Father's love are now called children of God (1 John 3:1). However, there are further callings to special ministries (Acts 13:2 ). (Holman Bible Dictionary)

Doing what you were created to do, your “calling”

God has created each us for a special purpose. The Bible calls it a calling, or also, “walking in good works.” Eph. 2:10, says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10 reveals that our created purpose enables us to do the good works that we are perfect for. We are “God’s workmanship” for a special purpose which is, “to do good works that He has “prepared in advance for us to do.” Think about what that means! You are a perfect fit for something that God has created you for! The perfect thing is your calling. Have you found it? If so, you will fit perfectly in your vocation doing what you get great pleasure doing. Sadly, many don’t find their created purpose and end up settling into something they don’t get personal fulfillment from.

Know the hope to which He has called you to

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (Eph. 1:18 NIV)

Walk worthy of your calling

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation with which you are called, prisoner.” (Eph. 4:1 NIV)

It’s about God’s purpose and grace

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” (2 Tim. 1:9 NIV)

Therefore...

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.” (Heb. 3:3 NIV)

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6 ESV) 

The wisdom from above is pure

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 ESV)

The beginning of wisdom 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111:10 ESV)

Get wisdom!

“Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” (Prov. 4:6-7 ESV)

Jesus became wisdom to us

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30 ESV) 

Pray and ask God for wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6 ESV)

Therefore…

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13 NIV)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8 ESV)

He guides you into all the truth 

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)

He sent the Holy Spirit to teach you 

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV) 

He sent teachers and instructors

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,” (Eph. 4:11 ESV)

Don’t lean on your own understanding

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV) 

What to pray…

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5 ESV)

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:11 ESV)

From God above

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17 ESV)

For the common good

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Cor. 12-7-11 ESV)

They are permanent

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11:29 ESV)

Therefore…

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV)

“And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16 ESV)

Grace has appeared for all people

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titis 2:11-14 ESV)

He gives more grace

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 ESV) 

By grace you have been saved through faith

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV)

You are not under law but under grace

“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14 ESV)

It is by grace not on basis of works

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” (Rom. 11:6 ESV)

Therefore…

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 ESV)

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8 NIV) 

Blessings come from trusting in the Lord 

 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8 NIV) 

Blessings on your food and water

“Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.” (Exo. 23:25 NIV)

Blessings and increase in your land

“For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” (Deut. 30:16 NIV) 

Therefore…

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” (Prov. 16:20 NIV)

“For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26:28 ESV)

Forgiven when we confess

”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV)

Forgiven, by the the riches of His grace

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” (Eph. 1:7 ESV) 

Forgiven, as far as the east is from the west! 

“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalms 103:10-14 ESV)

Forgiven, and white like wool

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isa. 1:18 ESV)

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:6-7 NIV)

In kindness, He saved us

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titis 3:4-7 NIV)

Therefore…

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”(Col. 3:12 NIV)