Today, I am moved by the call each of us has as God’s children to truly live in thankfulness. The following are truths from God’s Word that realign our hearts toward a grateful disposition amid a fallen and dissatisfied world of complaints and gripes.
Perhaps today you are struggling and have become discouraged with the hardships of this life. Learn afresh and anew to walk daily in a genuine spirit of thankfulness.
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 (Revelation 11:17). In this apocalyptic vision of Christ’s forever reign, the 24 elders give unto God this response of praise for the final overthrow of the kingdom of evil. Today, will you render to God your thanksgiving and praise because in Jesus He has overcome sin and darkness.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, so proclaimed the psalmist (Psalm 107:1). For, every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights(James 1:17). God’s goodness! We must never lose focus of how good our God is to us. In the previous verses in James’ epistle, he warned against being deceived by sinful thinking from faltering faith. He then focused upon the certainty of God’s goodness to realign the faith of one who in the midst of adversity was tempted to doubt. God, the Father of lights, references the display of His goodness that has been proclaimed by the psalmists for generations. That same proclamation keeps our faith aligned today as we keep our eyes upon the Goodness of our Heavenly Father.
Let us come before God with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song (Psalm 95:2). In this text, the idea of “coming before” expresses one who comes directly in front of God, meaning directly into His presence. The worshipper should be so moved by God that the pure intention of coming directly into His presence with musical forms of worship should be unquestioned and genuinely motivated by God Himself.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:18). Those who are “in Christ” through the spiritual new birth understand that every circumstance (even the adverse) creates a benefit for those walking by faith in God who reigns over all. Therefore, the Christian perspective should always be a thankful perspective. We must constantly live thankfully responding to God’s ongoing grace and mercy in our lives despite adverse circumstances.
Do not be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God (Philippians 4:6). True Christian faith does not live fearfully under the control of uncertainties. Instead, those who belong to God through faith in Jesus can humbly, but most certainly come straight to God in prayer. And, this approach should always be with thanksgiving, for God’s goodness and providential care awaits us even before we utter our first petition.
Today, allow these truths to reignite your heart toward a genuine spirit of thankfulness and praise. And do not shy away from living out your gratitude before others. For, they will see your Heavenly Father’s goodness and rejoice.
Blessings.
