A Season of Gratitude and Giving

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
- I Thessalonians 5:18

November is seasonally a month in which we emphasize gratitude. Gratitude is a way in which we can show appreciation to others. As parents we cultivate an attitude of gratitude by starting to teach our children the importance of thankfulness very early. Just this morning my youngest granddaughter received a piece of candy and immediately she responded by saying thank you! That sure made this Papa happy!

As we approach Thanksgiving, I am reminded that expressing thanks, especially in public ways, brings honor to our Lord as well as encourages our friends and family. In other words, it’s good for us and it pleases God when we give thanks. Luke 17 gives us the account of Jesus healing the ten lepers. In that account Jesus restored the lepers to perfect health, however it was sad to see that only one of the ten lepers came back and thanked Him. All the rest left without a word of thanks, their minds preoccupied only with themselves, gripped with a spirit of ingratitude. Jesus questioned the man: “Where are the nine?”

God has blessed us in enormous ways, yet we fail to respond in gratitude. Gratitude should be a way of life! How can we can we express thanks to the Lord?

  1. Show Thankfulness through Praise
    Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
    - Psalms 107:8
  2. Show Thankfulness to the Lord through Prayer
    Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
    - Colossians 4:2
  3. Show Thankfulness through Service
    As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
    - I Peter 4:10
  4. Show Thankfulness for His Material Blessings
    Both riches and honour come of thee,… for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
    - I Chronicles 29:12a,14b
  5. Show Thankfulness for the people in your life
    I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
    - I Corinthians 1:4
  6. Show Thankfulness by Obeying His Word
    And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
    - Luke 6:46

Rejoicing in the Lord will produce a grateful spirit! Work on your walk (rejoicing in Him), and your talk (thanksgiving) will follow.