Thanksgiving

Thankful Hearts

Giving thanks to God reminds us of how much we do have. Human beings are prone to covetousness. We tend to focus on what we don’t have. By giving thanks continually we are reminded of how much we do have.

We can have thankful hearts toward God even when we do not feel thankful for the circumstance. We can grieve and still be thankful. We can hurt and still be thankful.

That is what the Bible calls a “sacrifice of praise” ( Hebrews 13:15 ).

The Bible is filled with commands to give thanks to God ( Ps106:1 ; 107:1 ;

118:1 ; 1 Chronicles 16:34 ; 1 Thess 5:18 ).

Some reasons why we should be thankful include;

• It honors God . (2 Cor. 4:15 )
• It is commanded in Scripture. (Ps. 100:4)
• God is just. (Ps.  7:17)
• God is our source of joy. (Ps. 43:4)
• God answers our prayers and saves us. (Ps.  118:21)
• Giving thanks to God keeps our hearts in right relationship with Him (Phil 4:6–7 ).
• God forgives and comforts us. (Isa. 12:1)
• God delivers us from evil. (Jer. 20:13)
• God delivered us from the power of sin. (Rom 6:17)
• God has given us a heavenly inheritance in Jesus Christ. (Col. 1:11-12)

Thanksgiving and praise always go together. We cannot adequately praise and worship God without also being thankful. Great benefits and blessings come to those who consistently thank God. (Ps. 2:1) It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.

Thanklessness has dangerous consequences. It is dangerous to self and others. It dishonors God and leads to proud humanism or dependence on man rather than God (Rom. 1:21 ). It also leads to bitterness, complaining, and a joyless life (Heb. 12:15 ).

We pray to have thankful hearts in all circumstance.