When did you thank God for who he is in your life? Not only for the blessings that he provides, but for his love towards you.
It’s Thanksgiving week in the States this week. Are Black Friday sales worth the trouble of navigating anxious crowds? Perhaps you’re thankful for the sales advertised on all kinds of products, especially techie ones. I want to shop for a new iPhone, but don’t enjoy going to the mall.
Recently, I read an article about thankfulness which, of course, should be part of our every day. Yes, we’re to have gratitude for God’s provision and protection.
What else should we give thanks for? All material things are blessings from God, and he pours his love on all people, whether they recognize it. There are a thousand reasons to be thankful, but I’ll highlight three spiritual ones.
1. Give thanks for his goodness and love.
“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord for he his good; his love endures forever.”
(Psalm 106:1)
God sent his Son to die for humanity so everyone who believes in Jesus will be called the children of God. This sacrificial love was demonstrated by the gift of his Son, Jesus, who died and rose again after three days to provide us eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16)
2. Give thanks for his Word and his promises
The Word of God, written on scrolls or on stone or spread by word of mouth, gave us the Bible as we read it today. His Word has transformed lives throughout history; and changed attitudes and minds of his followers and inspired gratitude. Today we have an abundance of Bibles in dozens of translations for believers to study or read to grow in faith. We need more than physical sustenance (food) but also spiritual food through the Scriptures.
“But he (Jesus) answered, “’It is written,” ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
(Matthew 4:4)
3. Give thanks for family and friends
God created us to be in relationship with others. Are we thankful for our families? Connection with family, whether far away or nearby, is a blessing when we have a thankful heart. Those of us that are part of a local church, we can be thankful for our fellow Christians, even in different places. Paul reminds us to pray for others and be thankful for their service to God.
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers”
(1 Thessalonians 1:2)
Growing a thankful heart requires intentionality and dedication to maintain a life of gratitude, especially towards God. How often do we say, “Father God, I love you”? We can overcome any negative feelings by thinking on the goodness of God. When something negative happens, we can turn to his Word to sustain us through the pain. He has promised he would never leave us. The Psalms can nourish a heart of selfishness as we read his Word and turn our eyes onto God, the author and finisher of our faith, who supplies us with everything we need for life and godliness.
How about you? What are you thankful for? Are you thankful for:
- God’s love
- the Word of God
- family and friends
Please leave a comment or send me an email.
