Theology Thursday: A Short Encouragement for Thanksgiving

Welcome to Theology Thursday! Theology is the study of God, his relation to the world, and our relation to him. I hope these newsletters help enhance your faith and deepen your love for God and his people, the church.

Pastor Brady's thoughts:
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and bless his name. — Psalm 100:4

Thanksgiving, for the believer, is far more than a holiday or a polite response to kindness—it is the posture of a heart anchored in God. Scripture calls us not merely to offer thanks when life feels full and blessings are obvious, but to give thanks in all circumstances. Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 remind us that gratitude is not shaped by our situation; it is shaped by the reality of our savior’s death and resurrection and our status as children of our king.

This command to give thanks always may feel impossible at times. How do we give thanks in loss, disappointment, or uncertainty? The answer is found in who God is rather than what we experience. The Lord’s character does not change with our circumstances. His goodness does not fade when days grow dark. His faithfulness does not falter when we feel weak. Because His presence, his promises, and his purposes remain steady, thanksgiving becomes the steady rhythm of a heart that trusts him.

Psalm 100:4 invites us to “enter his gates with thanksgiving.” Gratitude is not just a response—it is an entry point. When we intentionally thank God, we step into his presence with awareness of his nearness. We see his fingerprints in places we overlooked. Thanksgiving awakens worship, softens worry, and redirects our focus from what is missing to the one who is enough.

Today, choose to cultivate a grateful spirit. List your blessings, both big and small. Thank God for what he has done, what he is doing, and what he will do. As you do, you’ll find that thanksgiving doesn’t just change your words—it changes your heart.
 
TO KNOW GOD AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN!
- Pastor Brady

Have a question for Theology Thursday? Send an email to office@minierchristian.org and we'll respond, or we'll include in a future Theology Thursday Buffet.