“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.” Psalm 105:1-3
This week Thanksgiving is being celebrated across the United States. The day has been set aside to thank God for His provisions and mercies. However, as we approach the day, we hear more about food, football, sales and traveling rather than we do about giving thanks to God. When the concept of being thankful is brought up, it’s usually in terms of a general attitude rather than focusing on the one to whom we give thanks. While one indication of godly living is a thankful spirit and an attitude of contentment, it is only godly when that gratitude recognizes God as the provider of all that we have. Even as Christians, it’s easy to get so caught up in the routine of life, that we forget to truly give thanks to God. Further, at the heart of our thankfulness is the nature of God. Psalms 106, 107, 118 and 136 begin with “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” God’s goodness and everlasting kindness are at the core of our gratitude. They are the basis of His plans for us, His provisions for us and way He allows us to be messengers of peace to others as we share the gospel and pass on the grace that has been bestowed upon us. They allow us to have a personal relationship with Him. In that light, let’s step back and take time to consider a few times that we are called to give thanks to our Lord.
“I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:21) Salvation takes many forms. Most importantly, we give thanks for our salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ. We give thanks when God rescues us from our enemies and other difficult circumstances. We give thanks when He provides healing. Lest we become self-absorbed, Paul reminds us to also be thankful for the salvation of others (Eph. 1:15-17). No matter the form of salvation, it is always cause to be grateful and acknowledge God work on our behalf.
“Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.” (1 Chronicles 29:12-14) God’s provision comes in many forms. In this passage, we are reminded that all that we have, any honor and status we receive and even our daily strength are gracious gifts from God. Further, anything that we return to Him through tithes and offerings already belongs to Him. Gratitude here is not just saying a quick prayer of thanks upon receipt or before a meal. It extends to tithes and offerings as well as our generosity to others in various forms. Paul reminds the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 that not only are we to be generous with those in need, but any acts of sharing God’s provisions, multiply thanksgiving to God.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). Both this passage, as well as Philippians 4:6-7, remind us that our attitude in prayer should be one of thanksgiving. God clearly wants us to pour out our hearts to Him, but it is with an attitude of humility and thanksgiving. As we pray with grateful hearts, our attitude of humility and our motivation in prayer are kept on the right track. Further, from my perspective, our prayers of thanksgiving for what we have received in the past and present produce hope and faith with respect to the concerns that we are laying before our Lord. That is, not only is our thankfulness honoring to God, but it reinforces our faith that He will provide what we need…that which is for His glory and our good.
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Here’s the more mature form of thankfulness. In times of salvation, whether we are discussing salvation from eternal punishment, our enemies or distressing situations, we are full of joy and thanksgiving as a natural overflow. Of course we are appreciative as we have just been rescued. It’s also relatively natural to thank God for His provisions. While we may on occasion take them for granted, through grace we are regularly reminded to be thankful and do so willingly as we consider how He supplies what we need. Even in our prayers, we understand that thankfulness is to be a required element as we are told to do so and it is modeled for us by Christ. However, giving thanks in our illness, at the death of a loved one, or in the middle of some other calamity may be a challenge. God despises the pain as much as we do so He is not asking us to be thankful for the pain itself, but rather the impact that it has on us. When we allow our faith to direct us, times of difficulty and pain draw us closer to God, cause us to examine our faith and hone our thoughts and behaviors. In those times, God is calling us to view our circumstances from an eternal perspective and inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. We rejoice in and are thankful for the trying times as well as the happy ones because they are part of our sanctification process and are maturing and deepening our faith. By grace we are able to do this because we trust in God’s goodness and righteousness and understand that they are ultimately for our good. If you doubt this, consider the human author of this verse. Paul was no stranger to difficulties as laid out in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. As he further indicates, it is precisely in these dark times that we acknowledge our weakness and turn to God for strength and guidance. So not only are we able to be thankful for a deepening relationship with God and His spirit at work in us, but also His provision of strength. We are not expected to do this on our own, but rather through the fortitude provided by our Lord and Savior and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. When we allow God to do His will in our lives, we can echo the words of Psalm 107: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.”
As reflected throughout scripture, the natural overflow of Thanksgiving is praise and telling of His wonderful deeds. When we express our gratitude, the result is glorifying God and sharing of the gospel. If it is not, we need to consider the possibility that our thanks is more intellectual rather than from our heart and soul and may need some attention. Psalm 34:1-3 says: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let this be our attitude and action. However, let’s not just do one day a year, but rather at all times and in all seasons for this is God’s will for us.
May our Lord direct your path,
Will