St. Paul on thankfulness
Laura DeMaria
When I think of instances in Scripture where the author exhorts the reader to give thanks to God, I think of St. Paul. In his letters, the directive to be thankful to Christ is a feature. For example:
“In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
Ultimately, as I wrote in 2017, gratitude is a prayer. And if you want even more quotes to inspire your thankfulness to God, Southern Living has a great article recently published, 35 Thanksgiving Bible Verses To Inspire You This Holiday. You will find the call to thankfulness in every part of the Bible, from Psalms to Revelation.
I will leave you with one of the most intriguing quotes on gratitude from a near-saint, Blessed Solanus Casey. He instructed people: “Thank God ahead of time.” Isn’t that intriguing? Because you are not only being obedient to God’s will in that prayer, you are also implicitly trusting him, too. Two big asks of the human spirit. It is a prayer worth repeating.
Have a happy Thanksgiving!