“…let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” – Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)
To live a life of thanksgiving means constantly seeking ways to honour the Giver of every good thing (Jesus). It involves counting your blessings privately, as Fr. Stavros notes, but it also means living them out publicly — in loving action.
This is especially powerful when we consider the challenges we face in life. Even in times of hardship, we can still thank God for His protection, wisdom, provision, and eternal love. When we share that gratitude with others, we help them recognise God’s work in their lives, and our gratitude becomes a testimony of His goodness.
So, in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming or uncertain, we are called to remember the example of the saints, the Jewish people in the Book of Esther, and Christ Himself, who gave thanks in all things — even in the shadow of the cross. Our thanksgiving in all circumstances honours God and reflects His presence in our lives. Many examples in the Bible showcase how people in difficult circumstances maintained a grateful heart like Job. He lost everything, including his children, possessions, and health. Even in complete loss, Job decided that God was bigger than his struggles and continued to be worthy of praise (Job 1:1-22). Because of this, God blessed Job with even more than he had before (Job 42:10-17).
We should also be thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth allowed us to be reconciled to God. We now have a place in His kingdom once we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. We are saved! (Romans 10:9-10). King David also wrote in some of the Psalms about how grateful he is to God. Even when he was at his lowest point, he repented and recommitted his life to God, thanking Him for His forgiveness. Living with a grateful heart should be our lifestyle.
There is a valuable blessing to a life lived in praise. We are invited daily to praise God, especially in this Christmas season. Luke 19:40 (NKJV) says, “…He answered… ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” When we keep our gratitude silenced, nature itself will cry out. Why would we want to miss out on fulfilling the greatest calling of worshiping God? Remember during this season to maintain a heart of gratitude.
Read: Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 4:2
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 31:21-31; Revelation 21; Nehemiah 11:22-36; Nehemiah 12
