In the previous post, we saw the goodness and benefit to us of cultivating a habit of thanksgiving and praise, declaration and worship of the Lord that is wholehearted and total. 

Giving thanks to the Lord and singing praises to His name is not meant to be left to chance or circumstances. It’s not meant to be done casually or occasionally but intentionally and regularly. It is spiritually, mentally and emotionally wholesome, healing and cathartic.

This kind of thanksgiving is massive for emotional and mental wellbeing. Hence the reason why the apostle Paul firmly included and incorporated thanksgiving in his remedy for anxiety. As if he’s reminding them not to forget thanksgiving in the act of making their requests known to God even in a state of anxiety. Philippians 4:6
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving (BOOM!) let your requests be made known to God.”

Thanksgiving must be present in all our prayers. It is this that also and principally addresses our emotional and mental state of anxiety – profuse and continuous thanksgiving, leading to the experience of “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7) referring to emotional (hearts) and mental (minds) wellbeing.

What we set our minds on has a huge impact on our emotional and mental wellbeing. Consequently, Paul instructs the church in Philippians 4:7, to direct their minds and keep them on, “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

It is in Christ Jesus the peace of God guards and protects our hearts and minds –in other words, our emotional and mental wellbeing. And it is in Christ Jesus too that our thanksgiving is to be brought to God. Paul reiterated and emphasised this truth to the Christians in Ephesus exhorting them to firmly incorporate and permeate all their praise and worship with thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:19-20
“addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Thanksgiving was to be at the heart and centre of all their praise and worship. In fact, the objective of their praise and worship was to give thanks “always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Nonstop.

It follows then that thanksgiving is to be a major ingredient in all our prayers and supplications and not only in our praise and worship. We are to target giving thanks to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in all our praise and worship. The undercurrent of all praise and worship is to bring thanksgiving to “God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. It is in and through Jesus we are to bring our thanksgiving “always and for everything”.

In other words, there’s never a time when we cannot give thanks or anything for which we cannot give thanks.

Do you give thanks?

How often do you give thanks?

When and where do you give thanks?