Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

1 Chronicles 16:34

To describe the year 2020 as dark days wouldn’t be an overstatement. Challenging and unprecedented times have become our new normal. Many are sick, experiencing grief, or suffering from a lack of necessitates due to the state of affairs. The medical community, scientists, and government officials still haven’t fully wrapped their minds and skills around the deadly virus that’s ravaging our world. Despite this situation, I hear the word of the Lord saying, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess 5:18).

The Scriptures enumerate this sentiment from Genesis to Revelation. Regardless of our experiences, we should always have an attitude of thanksgiving. After all, God is still extending His mercy, love, and grace toward us. We have breath in our bodies, and most of us can lift our voices, raise our hands, and smell the aroma of a new day. Praise the Lord!

When I was a child, my mother always said, “Thank You Lord or Thank You, Jesus,” when we returned home after a road trip. I used to think, “Is that necessary?” Why does she always have to say that? It wasn’t like we went on a long trip; we only went to town and back.” Well, as the saying goes, you become your parents. Yes, I am continually saying, “Thank You, Lord,” throughout the day. As I grew older physically and spiritually, I realized that life is precious, and God is merciful. Therefore, I adopted the attitude of gratitude my mother had.

In the Old Covenant, the Lord commanded thanksgiving sacrifices to be made unto Him out of a willing heart. “And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it of your own free will” (Leviticus 22:29). The Lord is not interested in mindless acts and mere words of thanks out of obligation. His desire is for us to acknowledge His power and works from a sincere heart of gratitude.

Nehemiah exemplified this concept when he dedicated the walls of Jerusalem. He appointed two large thanksgiving choirs who sang loudly, “…so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off” (Nehemiah 12:31, 43).

King David is an excellent example of a person who lived in an aura of thanksgiving. He exclaims, “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works” (Psalm 9:1).

The psalmist also reminds us to “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5 NKJV).

In spite of our circumstances, Ephesians 5:20 admonishes us, “…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Pray…

Lord, help me to be thankful in all things and for all things as Your word commands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Posted by on Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 @ 10:00AM
Categories: Empowering, Encouragement, Inspirational
Tags: grateful, Nehemiah, Praise, Sacrifice, Thanks, Thanksgiving