THANKSGIVING

Text: Luke 17:11-19, 1 Thess 5:18

Thanksgiving is giving something in appreciation or showing gratitude. Thanksgiving is part of what God created us for. It should be a way of life. We must have a heart of gratitude.

1 Thess. 5:18 says; "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".

Our Lord Jesus expects us to give thanks, hence in Luke 17:17-18 Jesus asked; "Were not ten lepers cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no-one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? Then He said to him; "Rise and go, your faith has made you whole". This shows that by being grateful, this only leper has got more than healing but in addition wholeness and salvation. This shows that Jesus expects you to give thanks and when you even give it, you get something extra for doing so.

In Matt 14:19, Jesus gave thanks before feeding the multitude. "Taking the five loaves and two fishes and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Here the resources were multiplied after giving thanks.

Thanksgiving is a command as given in Col. 3:15b "and be thankful". Also in Ps. 106, "give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his love endures forever".


Why do we give thanks? There are many reasons why you have to give thanks to God:

• For creating you in His own image.
• He forgives your sins and heals your diseases.
• He crowns you with love and compassion.
• He is good to you and His love for you endures forever.
• He fights your battles.
• He meets all your needs.
• He gives you life.
• He is faithful.
• He make your journey to be safe and secure.
• He loads you daily with benefits.
• He keeps and preserves you.
• He took you out of darkness into His marvellous light.
• He choose you as His child.

Also thank Him for what He has done, what He is doing and for what He is yet to do. So you have uncountable and numerous things to thank God for. You should even thank God for the challenges you are going through, because He will empower you to overcome.

In the bible, people like Abraham, David, Hannah and Noah gave thanks.
In Gen 12:7, 13:18 Abraham built altars for God as a means of showing gratitude to Him.
In 2 Sam 24:25, David also built an altar for the Lord and danced before the Lord as a means of showing gratitude.
In 1 Sam 2:2, Hannah sang a song to the Lord as a means of showing gratitude after she was blessed with a baby.
In Gen 8:20, Noah after he was saved with his family and his breathing animals from flood built an altar to the Lord.
Abraham, David, Hannah and Noah got more blessings from God because they were thankful.

You can emulate them. Give thanks unto the Lord in everything and wait for what He will still do. I am sure God will always do more. Live a life of gratitude. Show gratitude always even to fellow human beings. Learn to appreciate people and God.

How do we give thanks?

• By making a joyful noise. That is singing spiritual songs unto Him.
• By clapping and dancing.
• By offering your substance.
• By using your time and talents for the Lord.
• By sharing testimonies, so that others can know how good your God is.
• By counting your blessings.

When you do all these, thanksgiving will become an internal part of your life. Your attitude towards life will change.

Advantages of thanksgiving

• You will be fulfilled
• It is an investment into your future and to those of your children
• You will receive more blessings from God
• Whenever you give thanks to God, the devil is shamed. So you are shaming the devil.
• You are also obedient to the command: "give thanks in all things".

As long as you are alive, thank God and live a life of gratitude. Thanksgiving can be in advance. You should thank God for what He is yet to do and for what you are yet to receive. As you give thanks in advance you are building up your faith.

Prayer
Lord, give me a grateful heart and let my life be full of gratitude in Jesus' name I pray. AMEN.