Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving is not a once a year event for the Christian. Thanksgiving should be a daily, and a moment to moment event, and a way of life for the Christian.

Ps 50:14-15 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

A sacrifice is a form of worship, and thanksgiving is also. Thanksgiving gives honor to God. When we look to God to meet our needs He does not disappoint us, and we in turn thank Him; thereby, giving honor and glory to Him.

Ps 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

When we do that which is right God provides for our needs, and we in turn glorify Him, by offering praise, that is by giving thanks to Him. Therefore, if we do that which is right, we will honor God, by thanking Him from the heart.

Ps 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving magnifies God, because it gives Him credit for all that He has done and will do.

Ps 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 

Whenever we approach God we should do so with thanksgiving. Furthermore, true thanksgiving will include songs within our heart and upon our lips.

Ps 100:4-5 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

When we approach God we should always do so with thanksgiving. We should not only give Him thanks for all that He has done for us, but we should thank Him and praise Him for who He is, because He is always good, loving, kind, and faithful to all. He is worthy of thanksgiving.

Ps 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
When we worship God with thanksgiving we should do so by making mention of His great works with joyful singing. A joyful and thankful heart is true worship.

Ps 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. 

When we ask God to meet our need we should also give thanks; prayer without thanksgiving is prayer without faith. If you truly believe that God will answer your prayer, you will give thanks with every request.

Ps 147:7-9&14 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. 

We should give thanks to God because He supplies the earth with all that it needs to produce life. Every creature is dependent upon Him for life and survival. The fruitfulness of the earth is from the Lord. We are all dependent upon Him to supply all our needs and He does not fail us when we trust in Him to supply. Thanksgiving is a sign of our faith and trust in God.

Jonah 2:7-10 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

While Jonah was under discipline from the Lord, Jonah repented and declared that he would again offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, because he believed in the grace and faithfulness of God. True thanksgiving must be from the heart, with faith; therefore, when we experience the trials of discipline, we can be sure that we will again give thanks to the Lord when we respond to His discipline with repentance.

2 Cor 9:10-11 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

God not only supplies all our physical needs, but He also supplies all that we need in our service to Him. When we recognize that all our spiritual gifts and abilities come from Him, and that they are all of grace, we will give thanks to Him for all our work of service to Him.

Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

We should never be anxious for anything, but we should always look to God to supply all our needs, both physical and spiritual. Furthermore, the prayer of faith will always be accompanied with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the result of true faith.

Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 

Prayer with thanksgiving is prayer with faith. True faith will result in prayer with thanksgiving, and when prayer is offered with thanksgiving, God will honor that prayer.

Rev 7:11-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

All true prayer and worship includes thanksgiving. We honor God with thanksgiving. All of creation will someday give thanks to God.

All Scripture taken from King James Bible

* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24