Why Thanksgiving gives confidence to do God's will

Finding pleasure in God and being thankful go hand in hand.  1 Chronicles 29:13 tells us - "¹³Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." 

The word translated "praise" could also be rendered "to enjoy, have confidence, find pleasure".  If you are really enjoying something (like candied yams or honey glazed turkey), thanksgiving to the cook will come naturally.  The words that come from your lips will reveal what is in your heart. 

THANKFULNESS WILL GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE TO LIVE OUT THE WILL OF GODAs we saw in yesterday's blog, as Paul wrote those words in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, he was thinking and writing as a Jew.  In the context of his writing, Paul was encouraging His readers to focus all of their attention on living and pleasing God.  If God is the pleasure, the delight of my life, then the command to "keep on giving thanks" will not be a drudgery, but a delight.  Thanksgiving is the one activity that ensures me that I am in the center of God's will in that particular area.  Whenever my whole life is characterized by thankfulness, I am expressing my pleasure in God, and I have confidence that I am doing His will.