Why Do We Give Thanks to the Father?

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:20)

Today’s big question: why do we give thanks to the Father?

As Christians, we have many things for which to be thankful. When Paul explained God the Father’s part in salvation for believers, he stated that it was “to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). The glory of God’s grace is so astounding and eternal that our response should be one of continual praise (thankfulness) to God.

At times in life, things get hard, and it is easy to forget what God has given to us. No matter what is going on, we should remember the eternal grace given to us and give thanks “always for all things.”

Paul is very clear in Ephesians 5:20 that we should give thanks to God the Father. Because Paul often opened his epistles in a similar fashion, he wrote something comparable in Colossians 1:3, which states, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.”

God is the Father of Creation, of believers, and “of His only begotten Son” whom He gave so that we might live (John 3:16). God is also “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3).

It is no wonder why we are to give thanks to God the Father. Moreover, it is through the work of Jesus Christ that we can give thanks to the Father for His mercies (Colossians 3:17). God the Father, by His authority, has planned and given so much to us that all we really can respond with is praise and thankfulness.

There are many ways to praise and thank God for what he has done for us, such as praying: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). We should continually remember to thank God for all things through prayer. Another way to give praise is by “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

So whether we are in praying, singing, fellowshipping with others, etc., let us always give thanks to the Father for all things—thanking Him in particular for the spiritual blessings (e.g., His grace) He has given to us in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Today’s big idea: we should always give thanks to God the Father for all things.

What to pray: thank God for His mercies that He has bestowed upon us.