This is an excerpt from a Thanksgiving 2015 post…
Perhaps if we made a more regular practice of being thankful, we might have better outlooks on life in general. Paul said to “give thanks in all circumstances;” (1 Thess. 5:18a) he did not say give thanks for everything. The idea is to look to God and be thankful. In his very recent book on prayer, Tim Keller exclaims: “It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his friends contain no appeals for changes in their circumstances.” (Keller. Prayer, p. 19) Paul’s emphasis is the inner life and that if we focus on it, the outer life will take care of itself. This is how he can say “give thanks in all circumstances.” If we are viewing the circumstances of life filled by and strengthened by Christ living in us, we have much to be thankful for.
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