Ephesians 5:15-20
On Giving Thanks
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Paul made giving thanks to our God the Father and Jesus, our Savior, a priority...As you read through St. Paul's letters you will see in many of his epistles he has written about giving thanks...
St. Paul tells us here in his letter to the Ephesians that we must be wise and not foolish, because evil is out there...Do not get drunk and cause trouble...
Be filled with the Spirit...Although this passage is difficult always ask and pray for God's will...Always choose and live out of love... Ask God to direct and lead your life...St. Paul wants us to keep our minds on the LORD...By speaking the Psalms, hymns, songs of spirit, reading scripture, and keeping God in our hearts assists and helps in the filling of the Spirit...
Then St. Paul tells us to always give thanks to God for everything...(He tells the Thessalonians in his first book to them the same thing, Give thanks in all circumstances)...He is telling us God's will, His plan is the right one...We will many times not understand the plan, but give thanks for everything...This is very difficult...We might take some comfort in Job when he lost many things he tells us that The LORD gave and the the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised...
There are many things to be thankful...We know there are days we will be happy and some will not always be happy...But Jesus offers us an eternal life...On the cloudy days think of Jesus...So do as St. Paul has taught us give thanks in all things to God the Father for bringing Jesus down to us, to live, rise again, and to save us...Sing out, pray out, or think out loud with that music of God in your heart...Our Savior, is Christ the LORD...Be thankful for everything...