Saturday Motivation: A Call to be Thankful
13th June 2020
Saturday Motivation! A Call to be Thankful
Text:
Psalm 107 v 1 says; Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 118 v 29 says; oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
What is Thankfulness?
Thankfulness simply means appreciating what you have and not pondering or worrying over what you do not have.
Thankfulness is being satisfied with your position, situation or circumstances with the expectation that things will get better and not worse.
Thankfulness is being happy or showing appreciation after youreceive a benefit, favor, gift or promotion.
Being thankful is being relieved that something good or positivewill happen or has happened in our lives.
Thankfulness is different from gratefulness because gratefulness is directed towards the person experiencing the feeling while thankfulness is generated inside an individual.
Thankfulness is an ultimate gift of happiness that an individualcan generate independently without reliance on anyone. It means being happy anytime you like.
No matter the situation in life, every human being has something to be thankful for. Even for those that might have lost everything, being alive is something to be thankful for.
Choosing to be thankful is a choice that we can make and this leads to inner happiness. It also makes an individual less fearful and more powerful because individuals who are thankful would be willing to take risks no matter what their former experiences in life were.
What does the Bible say about Thankfulness?
Thankfulness is the appreciation of God`s grace, blessings or sovereignty in the life of every human being and the world in general.
Thankfulness according to scriptures stems from our total dependence on God and in the believe that all we have in life is the product of God`s sovereign control and love.
The opposite of thankfulness is thanklessness. Thanklessness is dangerous to us and others. It leads to pride and does not honor God. Thanklessness is dependence on men rather than God and it often leads to bitterness.
A thankful and heaven-focused person depends on God and his victories will be counted as victories that are won through God rather than through men. Depending on men often leads to bitterness and complaining.
The feeling of thankfulness is dependent on our spiritual life and it makes us different from others and we can be categorized as children of God rather than children of the world.
Why should we be thankful?
Being thankful is a choice and forgetting to or intentionally not thanking God is a sin.
Let`s look at some of the reasons why we should be thankful; 1. The bible admonishes us to give thanks to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance: Psalms 107 -150.
Let`s look at some of the verses of scriptures and not the entire Psalms 107 -150.
Psalm 107 v 1 says; Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 107 v 15 – 16 says; oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men for He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron in two.
Psalm 107 v 21–22 says; 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.
Psalm 107 v 31 – 32 says; oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the company of the elders.
Psalm 118 v 29 says; oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 136 v 1 – 26; also encourages us to give thanks to the Lord for the great and mighty things He has done and most importantly because His mercies endures forever.
Psalm 92 v 1-2 is also relevant, it says; it is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your Name o Most High. To declare your loving kindness in the morning and your faithfulness every night!
Psalm 100 v 4 says; enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.
1 Thessalonians 5 v 18 says; in everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 106 v 1 says; …Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.2. We are to give God thanks to God because He deserves it; Psalms 50 v 14 says; Offer to God thanksgiving and pay your vows to the most High3. We are to give thanks to God because it honors Him; 1 Chronicles 16 v 34 says; Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Corinthians 4 v 15 says; for all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God!
When are we to give thanks to God?
1. We are to give thanks to God at all times and in all situations; Psalm 95 v 2; Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to him with psalms for the Lord is the great God and the great King above all gods
2. We are to give thanks to God because of all His blessings and loving kindness towards us; Psalm 103 v 11; For as the heavens are high above the earth , so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.
3. We are to give thanks to God for rescuing us from our enemies; Psalm 44 v 7; But you have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. Psalm 18 v 17 says; He delivered me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me for they were too strong for me.
4. We are to give thanks to the Lord for redeeming us from the shackles of death; Galatians 3 v 13; Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree.1Corinthians 7 v 23; You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 6 v 20; For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.
5. We should give thanks to God for the people in our lifeand for our family; Romans 12 v 5; so we though many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. Philippians 4 v6; says; be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayers and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
6. We should give thanks to God for His Word! Hebrews 4 v 12; For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
7. We should give thanks to God for His love for us; 1 John 4 v 16; And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love and he who abides in love abides in God and God in Him.
8. We should give thanks to God for our problems and suffering: Some will wonder why a faithful God will allow His children to suffer daily problems and endure suffering but the trials of life are a constant reminder that this Earth is not our final home. If we did not experience sufferings and problems, we will not focus on God but will think that we do not need Him. James 1 v 2-4; My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
9. We should give thanks to God for everything He created:Revelation 4 v 11; You are worthy oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things and by your will they exist and were created.
10. We should give thanks to God for He is in control: Psalm 103 v 19: The Lord has established His throne in heaven and His kingdom rules over all
Let`s look at some examples of people that gave thanks to God in scriptures;
1. King David; Psalms 107-150; who wrote a multitude of psalms had the heart of thanksgiving and praise to God. David was a man with a heart after God. He was not perfect and there were times when he failed and sinned, but his life was characterized by his love for and dependence on God`s Word. In good times and in bad times David continually turned to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving. When we face difficulties, we must remember to turn to the Lord trusting that He will see us through.
2. Daniel: In Daniel 2 v 19-23; Daniel blessed the God of heaven for revealing deep secrets to him and giving him wisdom to understand and interpret the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel thanked the Lord for giving him the grace to do this.
3. The Samaritan Leper: In Luke 17: v 15-16; An account was given of a Samaritan leper that gave thanks to the Lord for healing him of leprosy. He was not the only one that Jesus healed, but he was the only one out of the ten lepers that remembered to come back and give thanks to the Lord for healing him.
It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord. When we give thanks to the Lord He is happy and willing to do more for us and bless us for trusting Him.
There are so many other reasons why we must give thanks to God who has counted us worthy. Instead of engaging in foolish talk and coarse jesting which are not fitting for the people of God, we should focus our attention on giving thanks to God.
Giving thanks to God pleases Him and makes Him willing to do more for us.
May the Lord give us the grace to be thankful no matter our situation! Amen!
Shalom!