The Power of Giving Thanks for All Things, pt.1

This could also be called the "benefits" of giving thanks. As I looked at the verses on giving thanks, and considered what I'd written, it occurred to me, if you want people to accept something or understand the importance of it, you have to explain the benefits. I touched on this in an earlier blog, looking at Romans 1. If not giving thanks opens the door to sin as Paul indicated in Romans 1, then giving thanks opens the door to overwhelming victory, life, holiness and light.

Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9-12 reveals another benefit of giving thanks. "Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light" (vv.11-12). Paul's prayer for the Colossians is one we can pray for ourselves and for others. It is a prayer that they would be filled with a knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. The results of this filling, of knowing His will in this context, are that we may walk in a manner worthy of Him, please Him in all respects, bear fruit in every good work, increase in the knowledge of Him. God's part in this is strengthening us with His power for the attaining of steadfastness and patience. Our part, realizing that He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light, is to joyously give thanks. When you realize that attaining steadfastness and patience is not your job, it's being accomplished in you by His strengthening with His power, and that you don't have to qualify, but He has qualified you to share in this inheritance in Light - Hallelujah! - how can you not joyously give thanks? When you do, it is an expression of faith in His working on your behalf. It not only indicates your receptivity to His work, but provides further context for being filled with a knowledge of His will. Do you want to walk worthy of Him, please Him, bear fruit, increase in the knowledge of Him? The starting place for all these things is a knowledge of His will in spiritual wisdom and understanding. And the starting place for this is His strengthening you for the attaining of steadfastness and patience, and your joyously giving thanks for what He has done to qualify you to receive your inheritance.