Giving Thanks

Today in America is a celebration “Thanksgiving.” A time of year, when our thoughts are turned toward those things we should give thanks to God for. It is a day when our forefathers celebrated not only surviving in a new land but in the new friends that they had made. It is a tradition that has gone on for over 300 years, but giving thanks is not an American tradition it is a God tradition, established many millennia ago.

We are designed to give praise and thanks to our Father for who he is, for all of his goodness and favor toward us.( Exodus 34: 6-7) He is merciful and forgiving and we can never give him so much that he would feel obligated to repay us. We, however, can never give to him the full honor and praise that he so rightfully deserves. (Romans 11:35-36)

We say we are thankful with our mouths, but are we truly thankful in our hearts? It is the heart of a person that God sees. He knows the intention and motivations of everyone. (Proverbs 24:12) We cannot fool God by our words.

We have seen his goodness and received his salvation through Jesus Christ. If for only that one act of love; we should be giving continual praise and thanksgiving, regardless of our current temporary circumstances. God knows our needs and if we fill our hearts with praise, he will meet those needs.

Our heart of praise should not be based on our circumstances but on who he is. Start giving thanks for everything good thing you have in your life, and give to him those things that trouble you. You will see that the more you trust him with your life, the more reasons he will give you to praise.

“I will praise the Lord at all times; I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Come let us tell of the Lord’s greatness, let us exalt his name together. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys those trust in him!” (Psalms 34:1-3, 8 NLT)


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