Give Thanks Unto the Lord...

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Ps 107:8-9

Sometimes the subject of Thanksgiving is easier to preach than it is to practice. How easy it is for today’s problems to overshadow yesterday’s blessings. Regardless of circumstance or situation, the goodness of God compels us to give thanks.

I) Giving thanks is a “personal” responsibility. No one can give thanks unto

the Lord on our behalf. Being thankful is not a minor matter with God.

The word “thanks” is found 73 times in God’s Word. First Chronicles says:

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. And say ye, save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and

deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and

glory in thy praise.” (I Chronicles 16:34-35)

Jesus exemplified the importance of giving thanks.

In John 6:11, Jesus gave thanks even though what He had was less than what He needed. Been there? Had less strength than what you needed? Had less wisdom than what you needed?

Had less money than what you needed? Perhaps that describes your situation this

Thanksgiving. One reason Jesus could give thanks is because He knew the need

was going to be met….and so will ours. The proven promise of God is: “My

God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

2) Giving thanks unto the Lord not only blesses God, it blesses us. It’s about God

But, it’s also about us and our spiritual, emotional and mental well-being.

The giving of thanks has a therapeutic effect upon the one giving thanks.

It’s virtually impossible to be thankful and have a sour, pessimistic, or

critical outlook. In God’s great concern for us… He exhorts us to give thanks:

“ It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.” (Psalms 92:1)

On this Monday morning of Thanksgiving week, perhaps the circumstances of your life are making it difficult for you to get into a thanks-giving frame of mind. For all of us-life happens--unexpected and unwanted circumstances do come. It’s not necessary to feel thankful in order to be thankful. The lack of feeling thankful, in no way, negates the validity or value of our thanks. We may give thanks under the ominous cloud of unanswerable questions. Giving thanks in the absence of feeling thankful is an act of faith and it is, by that same faith that we will walk through what we are going through. In faith, sometimes in the midst of pain, problems and pressures… we give thanks to God. Today we refuse to allow the reality of adversity to silence our song, thwart our thanks or prevent our praise.

“By Him, therefore, let us offer unto God the sacrifice of praise continually, That is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks unto His Name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

May you and your family experience the best of Thanksgivings as we enter this 2019 Holiday Season!