How to Be a Thankful People
“O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 106:1.
The Bible tells us time and again to be thankful. Gratitude is a trait of the twice-born. I think you will agree that grace and gratitude are inextricable interwoven. It seems unlikely that one can know God and not be grateful!
So for us as believers, Thanksgiving is far above being a day of hearty feasting and being entertained by sports. It is a very wonderful opportunity to exercise our sacred duty and high privilege of praising God for His goodness and mercy to us.
We are commanded to be thankful. And we know that God delights in the praises of His people. Therefore, you and I need to ask how we can be a thankful people at this season. I want to suggest several things that you will find are important as you consider how.
Reach Up
The Bible, says, “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God … the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). True thanksgiving begins in the heart and flows upward as we lift our prayers and songs of gratitude to God. Our first act of Thanksgiving should be to reach up to God with our hands and hearts laden with our sacrifices of praise.
Reach Out
Here’s a second step to being a thankful people: We need to reach out to others with a generous sprit. One way you can do this is by sharing with us at Love Worth Finding and with others what you are thankful for this year. And why not invite others to your Thanksgiving celebration.
Reach Back
A third way we can be thankful people this year is to reach back into our nation’s history and bring forward the truth about Thanksgiving that is in grave danger of being lost.
We are literally seeing American history rewritten. We are failing to teach our children that our pilgrim forbearers were men and women of stalwart faith and saturated with thanksgiving to God. It should not surprise us; therefore, that America has forgotten how to be a thankful people. When people forget God, ingratitude is one inevitable result.
In the New Living Translation, we find an interesting depiction of this truth in this version of Romans 1:21: “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.”
What can we do to restore a spirit of thanksgiving? We can proclaim the truth that all we are and all we have are a gift from God’s hand. We can remind each other of God’s goodness. And we can show the world our thanksgiving for all that He has done.
At this special season, the family of Love Worth Finding Ministries is grateful to God for you and we praise God for your prayers and partnership in this work. Our prayer for you this Thanksgiving is that your heart will be filled and brimming over with praise to God!
Perhaps these thoughts will make your Thanksgiving even more special:
• Let God-honoring music softly welcome your guests and fill your home with songs and hymns of praise.
• Take time during your celebration to pray for our nations and to pray for a spiritual awakening on every shore.
• Ask God to use your church and ministries like Love Worth Finding to spark that revival.
Known for his unique ability to simplify profound truth so that it can be applied to everyday life, Adrian Rogers was one of the most effective preachers, respected Bible teachers, and Christian leaders of our time. As founder of Love Worth Finding his evangelistic zeal and uncompromising commitment to the Word of God, he consistently presented the Good News of Jesus Christ with strong conviction, compassion, and integrity. Adrian Rogers was a devoted family man – husband to his childhood sweetheart Joyce, father to four children, grandfather to nine, and great-grandfather to six. Of all his accomplishments, Dr. Rogers often said his greatest joy centered in his relationship to Jesus Christ, his wife and family, and the church he pastored. All material is Copyrighted ©2023 Love Worth Finding Ministries, Inc. and may only be republished with Love Worth Finding permission. Transcripts are used by permission of the Rogers Family Trust.
Feature Photo by Wallpaper Safari
Thinking about ways to develop thanksgiving, for me it is to remember everything comes from God
We need to acknowledge that everything we have is God’s and not ours. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” When we do this, it reminds us that it’s a privilege that God has loaned us everything we have.
“What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7b)
Everything we have is on loan from God. Therefore, we need to give Him thanks.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
May the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness be yours this week of Thanksgiving. “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:5) Take care and God bless
Thank you, Dennis for this reminder, especially as we enter this season of giving and receiving. Any gift from God is good! God Bless!