THANKING GOD - VII

Romans 1: 21-22 - for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give THANKS to him , but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools...

See the dangerous consequences of thanklessness.. futile in thinking; minds became senseless; minds were darkened; they became fools... Thanklessness is dangerous to self and others. It dishonors God and leads to proud dependence on self or others rather than God.

Life can be lived meaningfully AND joyfully only with grace and gratitude.

THANKING GOD - VI

Col 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Nothing can be done aright, unless we persevere in fervent prayer, and add therein thanksgiving.. For those mercies which you have already received, in answer to your former petitions or others praying for you.

Surely, you always have something to thank God for... May be you are unmindful and so can't count your blessings!

How should it be expected that a person should succeed in a present request, who is not thankful for a former kindness?

THANKING GOD - V

Psalm 107:8 - Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Choosing by faith to thank God in spite of intense feelings of depression, disappointment, anxiety, etc., is deeply spiritual. Do not wait until you feel grateful to thank God.

Gratitude is a “medicine” that promotes your spiritual health, and consequently your mental and physical health. Simply keep saying "Thank you Jesus, Praise you Jesus" as often as you can and see the difference in your life!

The thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.

THANKING GOD - IV

Jonah 2:9 – But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord.

Jonah was in distress... yet, in the anticipation of sure deliverance, fully trusting in the Lord, he offers thanksgiving already. God honors such confidence in Him.. (Jonah 2:10).

Thanksgiving becomes a sacrifice when it proceeds from a heart which truly understands God’s mercies, AND is accompanied by a course of life well-pleasing to God.

Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions, a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry, and irritation.

THANKING GOD - III

Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.

This verse indicates a command... and God is more pleased with obedience (1Samuel 15:22)... however sad our spirits may be when we look to ourselves, yet we shall have reason to thank the Lord when we look to his goodness and mercy, and to what he has said in his _WORD_ for our comfort. (Read Psalm 27:5-6)

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds yesterday. Did you use one to say - thank you Lord ? What about today ?

THANKING GOD - II

Eph 5: 20 - Give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Note the words AT ALL TIMES and FOR EVERYTHING...  all our afflictions, as well as God's mercies were designed for our good, and were needful for us. Why then should we not bless God in the furnace as well as in the palace; on a bed of pain as well as on a path of gain ?

Thanksgiving should be a fundamental and invariable element of all Christian prayer. We have much for which to be grateful; and the duty of acknowledging the mercy of God should not be forgotten.

Ingratitude is always a kind of weakness; wise men have never been ungrateful.

THANKING GOD - I

1Thes 5:18 - Give thanks IN all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus FOR YOU.

The verse actually says to be thankful IN all circumstances and that means... “in the middle of” or “during” all situations, good or bad.. In other words, no matter what is happening in your life, you should be thankful... because of the promise in Romans 8: 28.

AND IT IS THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOU.. and that means He requires that you should NOT BE unmindful of this obligation.

Ingratitude is a crime more despicable than revenge, which is only returning evil for evil, while ingratitude returns evil for good.