Practicing Thanksgiving
We should be thankful because our God is worthy of our thanksgiving!
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Ps.136:1
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the Rosk of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.” Ps.95:1-2
The bible speaks about giving thanks over 150 times.
A ‘Praise the Lord!’ or Thank you, Father!” should be a way of life for us, naturally flowing from our hearts. It is a habit we would do well to develop.
The thankfulness of believers comes from a sincere heart of gratitude.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we are told to “Give thanks in all circumstances: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Sometimes that is a very hard thing to do. When we are walking in a trial, or filled with grief, we don’t feel very thankful, do we?
This command has nothing to do with feelings. We choose to obey and honor God for what He does. Through even the most troubling and challenging times we can offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving by letting our lives be a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. Romans 12:1.
Many times, it’s not about us at all. We can be a witness to those around us – those watching what we do and listening to what we say.
We glorify God in our actions, as in John 9:1-3. “…but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Train yourself to be thankful, to see God in everything happening around us. Just as in physical training, it takes time and repetition to develop a thankful heart.
Right now, can you quickly give me 10 things you’re thankful for? I used to do this to my complaining children. It switches the direction of our focus.
Just like the Army’s Basic Training- (Drop and give me 10 push-ups) can be replaced with give me 10 blessings out loud-every day! As you practice noticing and saying God’s answered prayers, His blessings, and divine intervention, it will become a natural thing. Whenever you find yourself complaining about someone, make yourself finish with something positive about them. Retrain your brain.
Just like physical training gets us in shape, practicing Thanksgiving has benefits also. There are many, but 3 come to mind:
- A mindset of gratefulness is a protection.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” This takes our eyes off ourselves and keeps it on God. Sin is a result of discontent. In keeping our focus on God, we develop contentment, which is a direct opposite of selfishness. Lord, we are prone to wander, keep our eyes fixed on you! - A mindset of constant thankfulness gives us an eternal perspective.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Matt. 6:19-20 says to “store up treasures in heaven”; Honoring God by investing our time, money and love in eternal things, like helping others.
We know our hope is in Jesus. “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
- Being filled with Thanksgiving is an essential ingredient for Joy!
Philippians 4:4 “rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Galatians 5:22
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in you.” There is no way to “rejoice always” in verse 16 without “the giving thanks in all things” of verse 18. This is an act of faith.
Let’s begin our basic training this week! God is deserving of our praise. It feels so good to acknowledge His work in our lives.
-Debbie Papac
Leave a Reply