Overview
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to give thanks in everything, not for everything, and the verb is a command rather than a suggestion. That distinction matters. Gratitude expressed deliberately releases dopamine and serotonin, and sustained practice is associated with better sleep, reduced pain, greater resilience to stress and lower blood pressure. Philippians 4 pairs prayer with thanksgiving and promises peace as the result. The more a person looks for what they have to be thankful for, the more they find.
Transcript
Give Thanks in Everything, Not for Everything
Thank you, John. What a privilege it is to be able to teach God’s Word. So tonight, I’m going to talk about the benefits of having an attitude of gratitude. In 1 Thessalonians 518, great verse, a lot of us have this memorized, but I’m going to learn things a little bit deeper tonight. It says, in everything, give thanks, not for everything, but in everything, give thanks for this is the will of God and Christ Jesus concerning you. So to give thanks is God’s will for us. In the amplified, it says, in every situation, no matter what the circumstances be thankful and continually give thanks to God for this is the will of God.
For you in Christ Jesus. So it says, give thanks, that phrase is in the imperative move, which means it’s a command God commands us basically to do that. And why do you think God says it that way? Well, it must be good for us and it is. Thankfulness and expressing gratitude helps reframe our perspective, our mindset and our whole attitude. In studying this, it’s really been fascinating for me. I see how amazing God is the way he set up our bodies and especially our brains. So listen to some of these things that I learned.
It’s really cool. And you’ll see the greatness of how God set this up for us. So
What Gratitude Does to the Brain
expressing gratitude triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which are neurotransmitters, transmitters associated with mood regulation, happiness and well being. This activation of the brain system can lead to the feelings of pleasure and contentment. How cool is that, right? Gratitude is linked to various positive outcomes, including improved sleep, reduced pain, increased resilience to stress, stronger social connections, and it can even decrease your blood pressure. Long-term effects, regularly practicing gratitude can lead to changes in brain structure and function, making it easier to experience and express gratitude over time.
It can also reduce the activity of the brain region associated with stress and fear. So expressing gratitude can potentially reduce anxiety and depression. All good stuff, right? Expressing gratitude can literally rewire your brain. So when we express gratitude, there are literal changes that are made to the molecular structure of our brains that help keep us healthy. It amazes me that God made us like that. Like it says in Psalm 139-14, I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous as I work, and that my soul knoweth right well.
It’s amazing that God made us that way. He says, and everything gives thanks for this is the will of God. That’s why he did it, because he knew the great benefits in so many ways. So
What It Means to Be Grateful
what does it mean to express gratitude or be grateful for something? Well, it means to appreciate and feel thankful for it, whether it’s a specific object, a person’s actions, or a positive experience. It involves recognizing the good things in our lives and acknowledging the value of them, both big and small. So how do we express gratitude?
Well, it can be expressed through words, actions, or simply taking time to appreciate what you have. I heard it said once, if you don’t think your life’s abundant, try cleaning everything you own in one day. It’s cute, but it’s true. Sometimes we just need to take inventory of our blessings, and it’s not just physical things. I mean, I think about my family. I think about my friends, my coworkers. I am thankful for my job. So many things. It really helps to just take an inventory of our blessings. Sometimes it’ll help shift your perspective.
Reframing Difficult Circumstances
Gratitude involves reframing negative situations and focusing on the positive aspects of even challenging circumstances. In everything, give thanks. Focusing on the positives of a situation. I remember years ago, my two daughters and I would travel together, and if something would have set one of us or something happened, my younger daughter would go, well, at least you don’t have an elephant sitting on your head. We’d all laugh, but that perspective is like, well, it could be worse. So let’s just look for what we have to be thankful for.
Pray With Thanksgiving and Receive Peace
In Philippians 4 verse 6 and 7, it says, be careful or anxious for nothing.
But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. See, we read this verse and we’re like, yeah, don’t be anxious, but pray. But it says, with thanksgiving. There’s a reason that those words are in there. With thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. And the result is that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep or guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. So look at that. When we’re stressed, pray with thanksgiving. And the result is, you’ll have peace. And so many other things, like I shared at the beginning about how it calms our whole system.
It literally makes you feel better. The more you look for what you have to be thankful for, the more things you’ll see that you have to be thankful for. The more you look for it, the more you’ll see it. Of course,
The Greatest Thing to Be Thankful For
the greatest thing we have to be thankful for is our God. Think about Psalm 107 verse 1. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, his mercy endureth forever. He’s good. Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good. 1 Corinthians 15-57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That’s something to be thankful for. Here’s one more. Colossians 3-15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also you’re called in one body and be thankful. That is something to be thankful for. We’re called in one body. We can let the peace of God rule in our hearts. And verse 17, and whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Everything we do, whatever we do, we do it with a thankful heart to God.
I’m thankful I have a job. You know, some people are like, oh, I’ve got to get up and go to work. I’m all thankful they have a job. That’s great. Just giving thanks and being thankful, I’m sorry, giving thanks and being grateful is just, is laced throughout the Bible because God knew we would need that perspective to live happy and fulfilled lives. So
Practical Ways to Practise Gratitude
how do we practice gratitude? Well, you could keep a gratitude journal and regularly write down things you think you’re grateful for. This can help you focus on the positives in life.
There’s another one. Practicing mindfulness by paying attention to the positive in life. This can help you focus on the positives in life. There’s another one. Practicing mindfulness by paying attention to the present moment and appreciate your surroundings. Living in the moment can help us cultivate gratitude. Living, paying attention to the present moment. We’re all in different places in different states, but take a second to just look around wherever you are. It’s a cozy home and it’s probably nice and warm or cool, whatever is good for you, but you have a nice care to sit in or whatever, but just look around.
Boy, that’s something to be thankful for. Many of you have other people with you there, so that’s a wonderful thing. Being mindful, staying in the moment, it can help you cultivate gratitude. Here’s another one. Connecting with others. Sharing our feelings of gratitude with our friends and loved ones. And deepen our appreciation and strengthen our relationships. It’s all good things. So, what are you thankful for? Who are you thankful for? Can you tell them today? Can you write it down to remind yourself of these things when you need it? Make sure you think of that song.
When I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad. Think about that. That’s a great line. We shift our thinking to those things we have to be thankful for. The more thankful we are today, the more we’ll see that we have to be thankful for tomorrow. So, I’m thankful for you all. I’m thankful that you all gathered on the phone today to be with me, and I love you guys. So, God bless.
Key Takeaways
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to give thanks in everything rather than for everything, which is a meaningful difference.
- Giving thanks is stated as a command, which suggests it was designed to be good for us.
- Expressing gratitude releases dopamine and serotonin and is linked to better sleep, less pain and lower blood pressure.
- Philippians 4 pairs prayer with thanksgiving, and the promised result is peace that guards the heart and mind.
- The more deliberately a person looks for reasons to be thankful, the more reasons they find.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 actually say about giving thanks?
It says to give thanks in everything, not for everything. The distinction matters: we give thanks within a situation rather than for the situation itself, and the verb is in the imperative, so it reads as a command rather than a suggestion.
Does gratitude physically change anything?
Expressing gratitude triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with mood regulation and wellbeing. Sustained practice has been linked to improved sleep, reduced pain, greater resilience to stress and lower blood pressure.
How do you actually practise gratitude?
Keep a gratitude journal and write down what you are thankful for, pay deliberate attention to the present moment and your surroundings, and tell the people you are grateful for while you have the chance.
Scripture References
1 Thessalonians 518; Psalm 139; Philippians 4; Psalm 107; 1 Corinthians 15; Colossians 3
This text was prepared from the teaching audio and notes. Please verify scripture references against your own Bible.
