Issues, Etc. The Christian View of Thankfulness – Bryan Wolfmueller, 11/26/25 (3303)
Nov 26, 2025
Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller, a theology content creator and leader at St. Paul Lutheran in Austin, discusses the essence of thanksgiving. He highlights how gratitude shifts focus from self to God’s past goodness, contrasting thanksgiving with anxiety as a form of spiritual warfare that brings peace. Wolfmueller explains the transformative power of thanksgiving, pointing out that it reflects a deep knowledge of God's gifts. He also addresses idolatry's roots in ingratitude and emphasizes how genuine thankfulness marks Christian distinctiveness in today’s culture.
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Thanksgiving Reorients the Mind
- Thanksgiving inverts the mind: from future-focused self-concern to past-focused recognition of God's deeds.
- This reorientation makes thanksgiving central to Christian faith, not mere politeness.
Paul's Priority: Give Thanks First
- Paul begins most epistles with thanksgiving because he recognizes the Holy Spirit's work amid sin and disorder.
- He thanks God for faith, love, and hope as evidences of God's sustaining gifts in troubled churches.
Use Thanksgiving Against Anxiety
- When anxiety arises, apply prayer "with thanksgiving" to replace worry with trust and invite God's peace.
- Turn worries into prayer requests and thank God for His presence and promises before acting.