We will never be truly thankful children of the Heavenly Father until we gain an understanding of the “Theology of Thanksgiving.”

Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

We must know and rest in the truth of the goodness of God if we are to constantly be thankful. We must know and rejoice in the truth of the providence of God if we are to be continuously thankful. We must know and rely upon the truth of the sovereignty of God if we are to consistently be thankful.

We should be thankful “always,” for God is always good.- Ephesians 5:20 – Being thankful all the time means: In favorable and unfavorable times. In advantageous and disadvantageous times. In sunshine and in shadow times, we know we should be thankful because we know God is good!

We should be thankful for “everything” is under God’s providence. Ephesians 5:20 – We never miss the water till the well runs dry!

We should be thankful “in all circumstances,” for God is Sovereign. I Thessalonians 5:18

Romans 8: 18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

II Corinthians 4:8-12 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”

II Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Philippians 1: 12 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.”

Henry Frost “ I had received sad news from home and deep shadows had covered my soul. I prayed but the darkness did not vanish. I summoned myself to endure, but darkness only deepened. Then I came across I Thessalonians 5:18 which says, “In everything give thanks,” I did, and in a moment every shadow was gone, not to return.

The answer is If we believe that God is good always, we can be thankful if we choose to be. If we believe in the providential care of God in everything, we can be thankful for everything that comes our way, positive or negative, knowing that God has a plan for our lives that will be for His glory and our good. If we believe that God is sovereign and that He ordains all the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we can be thankful in all of life’s circumstances.

There is no such thing as luck, karma, chance, fate or coincidence. God is in control and if we are temporarly uncomfortable it is because God is getting us ready for that place where we will be permanently comfortable. So let us thank Him! This is the “Theology of Thanksgiving!”

The Attitude of gratitude will make all of life a beatitude!