Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalm 100:4

This is the season that many focus on giving thanks. We celebrate Thanksgiving around a meal, by sending cards of gratitude to loved ones, and visiting relatives and friends. There is nothing wrong with any of these things. However, according to the Scriptures, we should give thanks to God continuously. Every day and every moment of the day should be a time of thanksgiving.

When I contemplate on being thankful, my list is endless. I praise and thank God for my very existence. Out of my 9 siblings, 5 have gone home to glory and none of them lived to be my age. Talk about thankful, “Oh, to be thankful”—just to be alive!

Not only am I alive, but I am happy to be in good health with a sound mind and body. And just as important, I know that I have a destiny and I am walking in my purpose. I am so thankful not to be wandering in this world aimlessly, with no direction or purpose for living. “Oh, to be thankful” to be living a meaningful life.

The Psalter often reminds us to give thanks just for the remembrance of God and His goodness toward us. Before we rush into His presence with our “give me” list, we are commanded to give God thanks… “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4). That is, we must first acknowledge God for who He is, then give Him thanks.

All of us should forever be mindful that “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:3-4). James asked and answered the question, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

When we think of how short and fragile life is, here one moment and gone the next, we should give God the glory whenever we can. The Bible is replete with commands to praise the Lord. However, we cannot praise Him if we don’t have a heart of thanksgiving.

God seems to go above and beyond for those who have a grateful heart. Think about the leper in Luke 17, who came back to thank Jesus for his cleansing. Jesus went beyond just healing and cleansing him, Jesus made him whole.

Also, what about the woman with the alabaster box of expensive oil? She demonstrated her gratitude for her deliverance by pouring this precious oil on Jesus’ head in preparation for His burial. Jesus was so moved by her heart of gratitude, that He made this declaration to show His appreciation for what she had done. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Matthew 6-13).

See what happens when we have a grateful heart? It pleases the heart of God to the point that He moves on our behalf beyond what is expected.

So, eat, drink, and be merry with family and friends on this day that our nation celebrates Thanksgiving. But never forget that every day and every moment is a time of “Oh, to be thankful!”

Declare…

Lord, I am thankful for every moment that you give me to live on this earth. I am grateful for the little things that you do for me. And I am grateful to know you as my Lord and Savior.

Posted by on Tuesday, November 21st, 2017 @ 11:07PM
Categories: Inspirational