Philippians 4:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." "in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." [NASB]
It is in [during, while "it" is happening] e-v-e-r-y single circumstance of our lives that giving thanks should occur. -Notice that God did not say FOR EVERYTHING give thanks! Though this is true as well, being thankful "for" something {only} could remove the element of immediacy. I may think it's ok to grumble and complain while something is going on, but "be thankful for it once it's over." I daresay, we would miss, overlook, or forget many things to be thankful for once "it" is over and past if we are not thankful IN "it."
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If thanksgiving is the one time of year we are most giving thanks, that probably means there's not much praying going on the rest of the year!
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jfn - 11/16/2011
