“singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God” (Ephesians 5:19–20)
We tend to think of life in terms of good times and bad times—happy circumstances versus hard ones. And more often than not, our moods and attitudes rise and fall with our circumstances. But the language in today’s passage points to something deeper: choosing joy and gratitude as a way of life, regardless of what’s happening around us. So how do we actually live this way in real time?
It begins by depending on God’s grace moment by moment, which is only possible when we’re under the control of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). That’s what produces a life marked by power and purpose—even in trials and tragedy. It doesn’t mean life is always good; it means your attitude can be consistently right.
As you walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, your life will naturally bear spiritual fruit. The more you submit to Him, the more your life will display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). That inward work of the Spirit produces an outward response—and one of the clearest is gratitude (Ephesians 5:20).
Paul isn’t describing mere optimism or positive thinking. He’s talking about intentional thankfulness—choosing to find reasons to thank God in every situation. Gratitude is also a powerful weapon against the desires of the old nature (Galatians 5:16–21).
Being Spirit-filled is living a supernatural life—doing what you cannot do in your own strength. It’s singing to God in dark circumstances, giving thanks in adversity, and even forgiving someone who has deeply hurt you. When you think, “I can’t,” remember this: in the power of the Spirit, you can—but only as you fully yield your will to His and surrender to the Holy Spirit who lives within you.
Do you walk around thankful for what God has done, or miserable about what you’re going through? Choosing joy and gratitude doesn’t mean denying adversity; it means trusting Christ in the middle of it. The Spirit-filled life isn’t the absence of hardship; it’s the presence of Christ in the storm. As a believer, your hope is in the Lord—no matter what trial or circumstance you’re facing today.
