Every verse in the Bible is important, if it wasn't, it wouldn't be in the Bible. God would not have put it in His Word. There are, however, some verses in Scripture that stand out to us as quite extraordinary. One of those verses is I Thessalonians 5:18―"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Notice, we are admonished to give thanks "in" everything, not necessarily "for" everything. For instance, while we cannot be thankful for evil, we can be grateful to a sovereign God in spite of it, assured that He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
1 Thessalonians 5:18 teaches us not to gripe or grumble, but to always be grateful. Remember, grumblers on the outskirts of God's people are most displeasing to God and most likely to incite and suffer the consequences of His anger (Numbers 11:1). This, in and of itself, is reason enough for us to be always thankful, regardless of our circumstances or situation.
Along with keeping us from being on the outskirts of God's people and from displeasing God, whose will for us in Christ Jesus is to be thankful in everything, there are other reasons why we should adopt a lifelong attitude of gratitude. To begin with, if you're in the pits, the praise of God can deliver you. In Genesis chapter 37, we read how Joseph's brother Judah delivered him from the pit. Interestingly, the name "Judah" means "praise." Nothing can deliver you faster from the doldrums than praising the Lord. Remember, it was when Paul and Silas praised the Lord at midnight that their cell door was miraculously opened and their chains fell off (Acts 16:26). Nothing will more quickly emancipate you from encumbering circumstances than breaking out in praise of God in the midnights of your life!
Finally, thanksgiving assures us of victory over our enemy. In 2 Chronicles chapter 20, we are told of King Jehoshaphat's unusual battle plan against his enemies. Instead of putting his crack troops out in front of his army as they marched out to war, Jehoshaphat put a choir in front singing praises to God. As a result, his enemies turned on each other and destroyed one another. Afterward, Jehoshaphat and his army marched in singing and gathered up the spoil. Nothing foils our threatening foe the devil any better than our thanksgiving to God. Could it be that our praise and worship of God reminds Lucifer and his fallen angels of the depths to which they have fallen from their former occupation as heavenly worshippers of God? And if so, is it possible that our adoration of God so agitates and aggravates the hordes of Hell that they actually turn on each other anytime we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving? Well, all the more reason to thank our God on this Thanksgiving Day. Not only will we bless the Lord by doing so, but we can also agitate and aggravate Apollyon.