By Todd Barrier 

With the official Thanksgiving holiday behind us, we are nevertheless still in the season of Thanksgiving, with Christmas just around the corner.  

Being thankful this time of year is easy. Of course, we are supposed to be thankful at all times. The Bible teaches us in 1 Thess. 5:18 to give thanks in everything.  

Read that again: in everything.  

Have you ever wondered why it’s so important to God that we be thankful? I believe it’s because gratitude is connected to so many other things God wants for us.  

In Phil. 4:6-7 the Bible says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  

We see in these verses that “thanksgiving” is connected to overcoming anxiety, developing a good prayer life and having a peace that passes understanding.  

When we are thankful in everything, we can find the positives in the good times and the bad! Are you thankful?