“Always be joyful. 17 Always keep on praying. 18 No matter what happens always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

[1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18 TLB]

Praising God and giving Him thanks must be made a culture and lifestyle by every believer. Our text instructs us to give thanks to God regardless of what happens because it is His will for you and I: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” [1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18 KJV].

Giving God thanks is an every-minute affair, not an everyday one. We are to give thanks at all times, praising God and appreciating Him with our lips, resources and lives.

So why should we continually give thanks and praise our Creator? Here are some reasons:

1. It is God’s will for us
2. It unlocks many doors and brings blessings
3. It builds our faith
4. It draws us closer to God
5. It helps to keep our lives clear of worry. As believers we are not to worry or panic, we are to give thanks.

It is pertinent to note that it is impossible to be joyful, as well as give thanks in our own strength, especially when life is hard. Right now, things are hard. So how can we be joyful and able to give thanks in times like these? As a people who have placed the control of their lives in the hands of the Master of the universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, it is possible to experience joy and thank God in all circumstances:

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving” [Psalms 28: 7]. The Lord is our strength and shield from every danger and He will never disappoint us.

We must express our gratitude to the Lord for our salvation, His forgiveness of our sins, His grace and mercy towards us: “Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him” [Psalms 95: 2]. In appreciating God, we must be intentional and we must do it wholeheartedly.

We must give Him worthy offerings, obey His word and follow Him as our Lord: “In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world” [Isaiah 12: 4 – 5].

When we thank God for the starlight, He will give us moonlight and when we thank Him for the moonlight, He will give us sunlight. When we thank Him for the sunlight, He will take us to where He Himself is the light.