Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
Nothing has affected my attitudes, disposition, actions, or perspective more than that time that I exclusively set aside for thanksgiving.
The title comes from Psalm 100: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.”
So much in life is unclear but giving thanks is clear so we want to follow it as consistently as we can.
I. Sometimes it’s not that we don’t have thanks to give we just don’t give thanks.
- We’re not withholding thanks, we just forgetting to give it.
- There is something about expressing it. Jesus knew the Father knew how thankful Jesus was but still Jesus gave thanks.
- And, there is a benefit that is released to us when we actually give thanks.
- This doesn’t mean it always has to be verbal. Just intentional.
- Mental health and personal growth professionals affirm the value of giving thanks.
- However, though they cite the benefits, the leave out an important element: to whom is our thanks to be directed? That takes us to number 2
II. We direct our thanksgiving to Him.
- Thanksgiving needs an object, just as faith requires an object. For the people of God that object is the Lord Himself.
- The Lord did not ask us to give up anything for Lent, but He did ask us to give Him something. That something is thanks.
- Psalm 69:30-31 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
III. We can at times over-think the Christian life, but we can never over-thank Christ.
- I was prompted to stand respectfully for a passing funeral procession. I thanked the Lord for the moment and the effect and the love I was able to give.
- Whether it was prompted by the Spirit or not, we cannot over-thank the Lord because “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things and in Him we move and breathe and exist (Romans 11:36; Acts 17:28).
IV. Giving thanks is a practical step we can take to gratitude.
- Giving thanks is an action. Gratitude is a state of the heart.
- Giving thanks is like filling the barrels with water and presenting them to Jesus. It is His touch that changes the giving of thanks into the wine of thankfulness and gratitude.
- What are some areas where we can focus our faith?
- For how He is building your relationship with Himself.
- For how the Lord has turned curses into blessings.
- For how the Lord has preserved you.
- For how the Lord revived you.
- His faithfulness to us in our present state of neediness. Acute neediness gives us greater awareness of His grace.
To me it’s simple. If I want to get the most out of life, and Jesus is the life it seems logical to focus on trying to get the most out of my relationship with Him. Giving thanks is one of the most important and practical ways to cultivate my life in Him.
Giving thanks is a direct gift to Him that pays dividends to us.
So, with what remains of your day, and as you begin your week: “in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It’s the gift He always appreciates.
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