“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ”
As human beings, we like to be appreciated each time we provide a service or give something to someone. As a mother, I often ask, “What do you say, if I don’t hear my daughter say ‘thank you mom’ after I give or do something for her.” Expressing thanks seems to be a general perception that the receiver has appreciated the giver which may not be the case. I listen to people complain all the time because they have not been appreciated for what they did to a particular person.
Giving thanks to God is an expectation of every believer, irrespective of the circumstances. God is the creator of the heavens and the earth. He is in charge of the seasons/times in our lives. In Luke 17: 11-19 when Jesus healed the ten men with Leprosy, ONLY ONE came back to give thanks. Jesus asked where the others were. This is an indication that giving thanks is an expectation. Luke 17: 16-18 He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan. “Were not all ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where then are the other nine? Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?” Additionally, I have noticed that most often Christians give thanks because ‘something big’ has happened. For instance, a miraculous healing from a terrible illness. However, every day in life; just waking up and being able to move our body parts and breathe is a big miracle. We tend not to bother with the day to day miracles of life daily.
We have an opportunity as we begin our first day of fasting today to thank God even for the fresh air that will breath etc. We should not be the kind of people described in Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened”.
Prayer Points
Thank the Lord for his Divine power that is at work in us. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3
Thank God for abundant life in Christ Jesus. Just imagine if Satan was in control, none of us would be alive. John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” God has been so good even if you think he has not answered your prayer. Learn to praise and thank him as the psalmist. Psalm 103:1-2 “ Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits”
Thank God for every day of this year 2021, good or bad, laughter or tears, prayers answered or not: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"
Thank God for his great power and sovereignty over the earth. Revelation 11:17 “saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”
Praise and thank the Lord for salvation: Psalm 95:1-3 “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods”. “But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” Jonah 2:9
Thank the Lord for his Love. Everything we received from God is because of his love towards us: Psalm 107:1 ‘Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"
Thank the Lord for the invitation to fellowship with him through the righteousness in Christ rather than your deeds or righteousness. Psalm 7:17 "I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High."
Even if you don’t still understand what is going on in life or health or life, marriage, children, job, finances etc; replace all that with an attitude of appreciation. Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
Thank God for all the victory and for using you as a commercial to educate the world about the knowledge of Christ throughout this year. 2 Corinthians 2:14 “But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It’s like a fragrance that fills the air.”
Thank the Lord for his UNCONDITIONAL AND UNFAILING LOVE toward you: Psalm 107:8-9 “8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things”.
Thank God for all the people God brought your way this year, good or bad was all for his glory: 1 Timothy 2:1 “ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people”.
Thank the Lord for his strength and shield over you: Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song”.
Thank the Lord for being your all round God; the rock upon whom you stand, the fortress (wall) that secures you in the strong place of his presence, the deliverer from the hand of the enemy, the strength that enables you to keep pushing every day. Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
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