Thankfulness strengthens and builds one's faith in the Lord. Christians need more outward and vocal expression of their thankfulness for God's provisions and blessings. Giving of thanks simply exalts the Lord. According to scripture, man can “magnify him [God] with thanksgiving.” Something magnified is made easier to see. Therefore, when men give thanks to the Lord, they make God more visible to a world overcome by sin. For what do you have to be thankful? Try giving God thanks for answered prayers, deliverance from trials, or simply His daily provisions. This thankfulness would help the world to see Him better. Ungrateful Christians have helped to convince the world that it does not need to give God credit for creation (and redemption among other things). Long before these perversions of truth, Christians ceased to give thanks.
On the surface, one might superficially define peace as an absence of war, troubles, or trials. Yet, the Bible indicates a much broader concept. Two words in our passage suggest as much. The Bible says, “the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” The next verse states that God’s “people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Both verses incorporate the words quietness and assurance revealing that peace offers a quiet assurance. Fortunately, this means that peace for the child of God is not contingent upon the circumstances of life. Christians can experience peace even while enduring the worst of circumstances.
