Special thanksgiving

DAY 20.    20/10/2024

TOPIC: SPECIAL THANKSGIVING

TEXT: Psalm 34:1-3

David wrote most of his songs in the midst of great troubles and persecutions. To David, thanksgiving to God had become a daily lifestyle. David’s attitude to thanksgiving developed from his heart. When he was a young shepherd boy in the wilderness among dangerous animals, David was a thanks giver to God. When he was faced with Goliath, David was thanking God. When he had to flee from his enemies like king Saul, David was full of thanksgiving. Likewise as a powerful king of Israel, David was always thanking God in worship and praises. In this current generation, it is difficult to live a lifestyle such as David’s without being criticized or considered as an abnormal person. The most important lesson to learn from the life of David is that David preferred to count his blessings instead of complaining about his burdens. David had several reasons to complain but he chose to appreciate God with thanksgiving. Psalm 103:105.

Thanksgiving is a choice. As believers, we have a choice to make between thanking God for all that He has done for us through Jesus Christ or we can choose to complain as we focus our attention on burdens. As Christians, we should focus all our thoughts, not only now but as often as possible upon the goodness of God and show gratitude to God for Who He is in our lives and for what God has done for us. Most of the prayers and miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ were started with thanksgiving to God. John 6: 11. John 11:41.

Thanksgiving should be a lifestyle. Thanksgiving should not be an activity for Christians to embark upon in the church on Sundays only. It should be a part of our daily lifestyle. Thanksgiving should not be reserved only for the times that we want to ask for a request or a petition from God. Likewise, there should be no compulsion in thanksgiving to God as it ought to flow naturally from a grateful heart. David was not offering his thanksgiving to please anybody. As a king, he danced before God even though some were mocking him for it. 2 Samuel 6:20-21.

Remembrance aids and propels thanksgiving. Psalm 103: 2 says “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” For me, this is the secret to a lifestyle of thanksgiving to God. Do not forget what God has done for you. It is very easy to forget considering the plethora of issues we are confronted with in life everyday but you must not allow those issues to overwhelm you to the point of forgetting what God has already done for you. It is very important to always remind ourselves of where God picked us from before we encountered Jesus Christ in our lives. From time to time, carry out an honest assessment of your life in your relationship with Jesus Christ and you will discover many reasons to be thankful to God.

Be grateful. Only a grateful heart can offer thanksgiving to God. When you have a grateful heart, you will always see the good in every situation. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose.” An ungrateful heart will always find fault in every situation. An ungrateful heart will focus on the negatives rather than the positives. An ungrateful heart will likely be judgmental and unforgiving of others. Matthew 18:21-35.

Be vocal in your thanksgiving. The Bible says in Psalms 22:3 ” But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” The easiest way to create an atmosphere of the presence of God is through thanksgiving and praises. As said before, don’t bother about public opinion when you want to worship God in thanksgiving and praises. Do it genuinely from your heart and you will experience the presence of God in your life? Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150.

Finally, make it a part of your daily experience to thank God. Thank God when you wake up in the morning, thank God at the end of the day, thank God when you have plenty and thank God also when you are in need. Thank God in all endeavours and situations as it is the will of God. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.