Giving thanks Bible verses are foundational for a life filled with joy and peace.
So, who doesn't want to live in joy and peace these days? I'm thinking that some people believe that to be an impossible dream. What if it wasn't?
This time of year, (I'm writing this November 1, 2023) we are turning our focus to our holiday of Thanksgiving, just three weeks away. How did it get here so fast? It seems like it was just six months ago that this year started!
The dictionary definition of "joy" is: "a feeling of great pleasure and happiness", and the definitions of "happy" is: "feeling or showing pleasure". The definition of "peace" is: "freedom from disturbance; tranquility". Both joy and peace have a degree of "pleasure" in them. So what does "pleasure" mean? "A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment".
So taking those definitions into account and going back to my original question - Do you "want to purposely live a life filled with joy and peace?" This would be to live life with a feeling of pleasure, happiness, freedom from disturbance, and tranquility.
Seems kind of out of reach in these times right now, doesn't it? What if I told you that you can have peace, pleasure, and happiness even in difficult times? Would you believe me?
Did you know that "feelings" come after you have a thought? Feelings are emotions, and are not always true. "True to you", but not always "truth". If you are waiting for someone else to make you happy or joyful, or peaceful, you will wait a along time! And if you are waiting for others to change your emotions, you will be a mess!
YOU are in charge of your thoughts, so you can take charge of what you think about, and what you focus on. Peace comes from within you. So does joy and happiness.
That's why some people seem strong and happy, and others look like a cloud of doom hangs around them all the time. It matters what you are "thinking" about! And you choose every day where you spend your thinking.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:15, 17 "Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Both of these passages remind us to always give thanks, and always means "all the time"! That doesn't mean "only when I feel like it", or "when things are going great". It means "all day, every day".
And when you stay in a state of "giving thanks", you will find that peace.
There are many "giving thanks" Bible verses that I could put here, and I could come up with lots of statistics of how many, etc. What I really would like for you to do, is find one of those verses for yourself and commit it to memory. Then think about it and DO it, and see how it changes your day.
I shared the pictures above of my shelter cat, Priya. Sometimes I'm not sure what she thinks, but if she would remember the over two years in shelters, I'm pretty sure she is thankful that she has a place to roam and sleep where she wants. She gets fed and taken care of, and doesn't worry about finding that next meal - only WHEN she is going to get it. LOL And her "when" is not always my "when". If you have cats, you know what I mean!