Ephesians 5:18, 21 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit…Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays that we as Christians are commanded to celebrate…sort of. We’re not specifically called to celebrate the holiday, but we are called to live constantly in the spirit of Thanksgiving.  

In Ephesians 5, Paul gives a command: be filled with the Spirit. Then he follows it up with several ways that we become filled with the Spirit, one of which is in v. 21, “giving thanks…” As we celebrate the holiday with our friends and families, let’s reflect on this verse and it’s instruction to thank God in everything by asking three questions: why, when, and how.  

Why should we give thanks?  

“…in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” 

Sometimes, life gets really hard. Maybe you’re facing some health challenges, dealing with conflict in your family, or going through a season of severe depression and anxiety. In this times, it’s difficult to have hope, and thus also difficult to give thanks. 

As believers in Jesus, we have the hope of eternal life. No matter what happens in this life, our eternity is secure. We’re also promised in Romans 8:28 that even in this life, God works all things out for our good and His glory. We can trust His good plan because we have experienced His faithfulness firsthand through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.  

When should we give thanks?  

“Giving thanks always….” 

It’s much easier to give thanks when life is easy and simple. When you’re not questioning God, when you’re experiencing His blessing, and when you feel happy and healthy, giving thanks is second nature for the believer. But when the hard times come, we must still praise God. We are not excused from thankfulness when life is difficult.  

It’s really simple: there is never a moment when we should not be giving thanks. God has given us so much, and continues to give us love, mercy, and grace every single day. We can – and must – give thanks at all times and in all circumstances.   

How do we give thanks?  

“Giving thanks…unto God and the Father…” 

James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  

We must first recognize that God is the source of every good thing in our lives. We can acknowledge His goodness in big blessings like your spouse, your family, your home, or your job; and we can also acknowledge His goodness in the little, everyday blessings.  

And so as we acknowledge that every blessing comes from God, we turn to God to praise Him. We praise with our lips in words of thankfulness; but we also must praise Him with our lives. Romans 12:1 calls us to “…present [our] bodies a living sacrifice…” because doing so is our “reasonable service.” The only right response to God’s goodness is to give Him not only our words, but also our whole lives in thanksgiving and praise to Him.  

So as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, keep these verses in your heart. Remembering what Christ has done and what God does for you every day, give thanks in every moment. Even if this holiday is difficult for you, take the opportunity to recall the goodness and faithfulness of God, and take time to rejoice in Him.