Being Thankful

Philosophical View of Being Thankful

Happy or grateful because of something

Biblical View of Being Thankful

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:21KJV

It’s hard to enjoy worshipping the Lord sometimes, especially when we feel guilty about something, it is at those times we tend to struggle to praise him. A major part of worship is being thankful despite our situation. The Lord knows saying thank you doesn’t always come easily or naturally. Perhaps that is why he gave it as a command for us to be thankful. The psalmist echoes that we should enter the gates with thanksgiving go into His courts with praise be thankful unto him and bless his name. Psalm 100:4KJV

According to Colossian 3:15 Paul emphasized to the Christians at Colosse to let the peace that comes from Christ rule in their hearts and always be thankful. He exhorted the saints in Thessalonica no matter what happened always be thankful for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1st Thessalonians:18KJV

Sometimes it’s hard to discover the will of God. If only I could find out what he wants me to do, I’d do it, we say. Well, he has already told us one thing that he wants us to do– be thankful. Israel brought thanksgiving offerings to the Lord along with all the other offerings .So often we bring our sin offering and guilt offerings to God but forget to add our thanksgiving offerings. Perhaps you are feeling so guilty about something that you feel too much shame to be thankful, even when you don’t feel thankful, give thanks anyway.

Then Hezekiah answered and said, now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings. 2nd Chronicles 29:31KJV

Thank God first for the ability to thank him. This is a unique ability we as human beings have. Thank him that he knows and cares about all the reasons you are finding it extremely hard to be thankful. Perhaps therefore this is why the Bible talks about thanksgiving offerings. It costs us nothing to be thankful. But if we bring our sin and guilt to God, we will find forgiveness, and we should give him thanks for accepting our offering.

I am so glad Paul said be thankful and that he didn’t say, feel thankful, being thankful is something I can do. It is a command I can obey and it is an offering acceptable to God. We can choose to offer thanks to God no matter what we are experiencing. Paul says in all things give thanks so despite how we feel try bringing a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving along with your guilt offering and you’ll find release and rest.

BLESS THE NAME OF THE LORD.