THANKSGIVING
Psalm 107:21-22
The Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ lay emphasis on the subject of thanksgiving. The Bible commands us to thank God in Psalm 107:21-22, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing”. Verses on thanksgiving abound in the scriptures. For instance, Colossians 4:2 enjoins believers to “continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving”. Ephesians 5:20 says to give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many benefits accrue from thanking God:
1. Thanksgiving presents you as a grateful person. Only ingrates fail to say thank you. Everyone hates ingratitude and an ungrateful person. In the story of the ten lepers Jesus healed in Luke 17:15 only one of them came back to register his appreciation to Jesus. The Lord was shocked and asked. ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’”Luke 17:17-18.
2. Thanksgiving gives you access to God’s presence. “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name…Psalm 100:4-5 Thanksgiving opens His gates; praises usher you into His courts.
3. God is glorified. When you glorify God, it means you magnify, extol, eulogize and adore Him, Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving”.
4. It brings joy and creates an atmosphere for the supernatural. Thanksgiving and joy go hand in hand. Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.”
5. Thanksgiving promotes good health. Grateful people tend to enjoy better health than ungrateful people, this is because it impacts the physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of the man thanking God.
6. It keeps you humble. When you give thanks to God, you give Him credit for what He has done.
7. Thanksgiving positions you for more blessings. If you thank God for what He has done for you, you prepare yourself for more from Him. Multiplication and increase follow thanksgiving. When Jesus was offered the fish and bread, he gave thanks and God multiplied the meal such that it fed thousands and they had leftovers, Mathew 14:17-21
8. It gives you strength to face and overcome the challenges of life. Life’s challenges can be crushing, but thankful people handle life’s crises better as they have a positive perspective in the midst of life’s crises. Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God at midnight, Acts 16:25 and God secured their release.
PRAYER: Lord make me a thankful soul.
