Why is it important to give thanks?
Human beings are prone to covetousness, and we tend to focus on what we don’t have. By giving thanks continually we are reminded of how much we do have. When we focus on blessings rather than wants, we are happier. When we start thanking God for the things, we usually take for granted, our perspective changes. We realize that we could not even exist without the merciful blessings of God. We can have thankful hearts toward God even when we do not feel thankful for the circumstance because there is a lot to be thankful for.
When we make thanksgiving a lifestyle, we don't have to wait for the third Thursday of November but make it daily, hourly or transactional. It creates confidence in the future, strength to face challenges and overall happiness.
The Bible clearly instructs Christians to fix our eyes on the Heavenly Father, the true source of every good thing in our lives. He is the One who graciously gives us “good things” of all kinds, and our natural response should be thank Him specifically.
An interesting aspect is - should we thank God for failure? Yes. Even failure, because out of failure emerges learning and out of learning comes a solution and strength the next time we face it. More importantly, the failure we see maybe part of Gods plan to give us some much more than we expected.
The best part is we don't need to reserve a time or place. We can do it as we sit in the train or bus, or when we wake up and spend some blissful moments in a cozy bed or anytime and anywhere.
I like to call this a triple P approach - PROVISION, PROTECTION AND PARTICIPATION.
Thank Him for
Provision for our or someone else's daily needs or special needs.
Protection - from evil, like disease, accidents, enemies, etc.
Participation by the Father in our lives. He loves us and wants to be part of His children's lives (just as we do with our children), wants to talk to us, hear us, commune with us. If we let Him.
After all, if a lifestyle of thanksgiving was good enough for a King, it is good enough for us.
Psalm 103
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s...
Therefore ...
Psalm 50:14-15
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
Comments
Post a Comment