THANKING GOD - XVI

Psalm 79:13 - Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Sit down sometime and write out a list of all the things that we should thank God for. Then, pray and give Him thanks for all the things that He has done for you. It is His will for YOU.

When we fail to give thanks, we are failing to acknowledge what God has done for us. This is taking God’s kindness toward us for granted.

Living life in gratitude is living in a continuous state of blessing.

THANKING GOD - XV

Phil 4:6 - Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

To the general word "prayer" is subjoined the distinction of the two great elements of worship, “supplication WITH thanksgiving.” The very expression, however, shows that, though distinct, they are inseparable.
If one realises that whatever he has, he has received from the hands of divine love, thanksgiving becomes appropriate in any situation... and armed with thanksgiving for God's tender care & mercy, we can smile at the poisoned darts of anxiety which would otherwise fester in our hearts and, perhaps, kill.

Gratitude is the seed for joy and you glorify God when you express your gratitude⁠⁠⁠⁠.

THANKING GOD - XIV

Col 3: 17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We are to engage in every duty, not only in the name of Christ, but with thankfulness so that we may honor him; and with a grateful remembrance of the mercy of God that gave us such a Saviour as Christ to be an example and guide.

The person who goes to work with a heart overflowing with gratitude to God for his mercies, is sure to do his work well. As a Christian, all our actions are to be accompanied with thanksgiving.

Gratitude is one of the greatest Christian virtues; ingratitude, one of the most vicious sins.

THANKING GOD - XIII

1Chronicles 16:34 - O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

If there is in us any deep, real, abiding, life-shaping thankfulness for the gift of Jesus Christ, it is impossible that our tongues should cleave to the roofs of our mouths, and that we should be contented to live in silence.

Loving hearts WILL speak. What would you think of a mother who never found it needful to unpack her heart of its tenderness, even in perhaps the inarticulate crooning over the little child that she pressed to her heart?

Earth produces nothing worse than an ungrateful person and ingratitude is the mother of pride.

THANKING GOD - XII

Psalm 118:21 - I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

Good health is a great blessing, but it could be gone tomorrow. Our tables may be loaded with food today, but we could be out of work tomorrow and wondering about our next meal.

How about taking a new approach to giving thanks today? Instead of focusing on the traditional areas of our work, food, family, friends, etc... let’s thank God for what we cannot lose - the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Read Rom 8: 35-39).

More Miracles occur from Gratitude and Forgiveness than anything else.

THANKING GOD - XI

Psalm 69:30 - I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

To "magnify" is to make great; but God cannot be greater than he is. He is greater than all... But he is magnified when his greatness is realized and declared, and that is ascribed unto him; and particularly when "thanks" are given to him for favors.

Reflect on and serve those less fortunate than you. This will remind you of how gracious God has been to you, how far he has brought you, and how much he has blessed you—which will in turn motivate you to be grateful to God.

Living life in gratitude is living in a continuous state of blessing.

THANKING GOD - X

Psalm 92: 1-2 - It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.

It is not uncommon to compile wish lists at Christmas, & draw up a shopping list. But there is another list we often overlook - a prayer list of all things for which we are to be thankful.

Thanklessness promotes depression and feelings of hopelessness because we become focused on our problems rather than on the Lord. Being thankful is an easy way to focus on the Lord.

Gratitude is not a feeling that dictates your choices; it is a choice that affects your feelings.

THANKING GOD - IX

Ephesians 5:4 - Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving.

Human beings are social in their nature; and if they do not assemble for good purposes, they will for bad ones, for  jesting, idle, petty, and impolite conversation, low wit, etc..., which is the way of the world. (Read Rom 12:2).

It is much more appropriate to the character of Christians to come together to sing praises to God in thanksgiving, than to sing secular songs; to pray than to jest; and to devote the time to a contemplation of the Word, than to trifles and nonsense.

The impurity in outward expression reveals the impurity of the inward soul.

THANKING GOD - VIII

Deut 8: 17-18 - Do not say to yourself, "My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth." But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth..

We are warned against the danger of ungratefully forgetting God, which follows so easily from the pride of wealth. Gratitude is a discipline, a habit that must be consciously developed and deliberately cultivated. Prioritize thanksgiving in your prayer life.

Material affluence promotes ingratitude!

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.