The Christliest life!

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(J.R. Miller, "Christian Essentials")

"Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thanksgiving should never be lacking in a Christian life. It is not enough to observe one day in the year for 'Thanksgiving' although that is a beautiful thing to do. Nor is it enough to put a sentence of thanksgiving into our daily prayers, although that, also, is proper.

It is the grateful spirit which pleases God, the spirit that is always full of praise. There should be a note of thanksgiving running through all our life.

Too many of us go to God only with . . .
  our requests,
  our burdens,
  our worries,
  our troubles
--while we but rarely go to Him with any word of thanks.

We are not to be thankful only for the pleasant and agreeable things that come into our days--we are to be thankful, too, for the things that appear to us to be adversities. "Give thanks in everything." That means . . .
  in the sad days--as well as in the glad days,
  when clouds are in the sky--as well as when the sunshine is pouring everywhere.

It is said here that this is the will of God for us. The Christliest life is the one that is always keyed to the note of praise and thanksgiving.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful!" Hebrews 12:28

"Overflowing with thankfulness!" Colossians 2:7

"At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father!" Ephesians 5:20 

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