Thanksgiving

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Paul knew a simple truth which we too often miss. Our lives are defined by how we deal with difficulty, in other words "give thanks in all circumstances."

No one can escape the difficult times of life. Jesus said, "in this life you will have tribulation."

So what separates the survivors from the casualties of life?

Many things factor into that equation but one of the primary differences is attitude.   It is how we each deal with what life hands us.

Paul's attitude about life was framed by one passage that he wrote.  "God causes all things to work for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."

In all things, we need to remember that there is an understanding that no matter what we face, no matter who causes it, no matter how good or bad it is, give thanks in all circumstances.

That's how Paul tempered his attitude. By an understanding that God was bigger than his circumstances, stronger than any problem he faced, and able to use any mistake he made.

How do we learn to deal with difficulty?  By remembering that God is in the midst of all things in our lives and is in control.

As we come to this Thanksgiving week, it is important that we not focus just on one day of fun, food and football.  We also need to focus on attitude. An attitude that should prevail in all our lives is one of giving thanks in all things.

If we stop to think about it, we truly have a lot to be thankful for.