3. THE POWER OF THANKSGIVING

 THIS SERIES: GRUMBLING, A BARRIER TO REST

This series has been looking at the negative effects of grumbling and complaining on our lives.​Last week's post focused on the importance of remembering the Lord's interventions on our behalf; this week we need to think about the appropriate response.

And of course that response can only be gratitude, which in turn leads to thanksgiving to God for His goodness to us.

7 IMPORTANT REASONS TO BE THANKFUL:

​​1. It makes our hearts glad, which has an effect on our whole bodies.

A cheerful heart is good medicine.
​[Proverbs 17:22]
​

​2. It’s a sign of the kingdom being amongst us:

The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
He will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD.
​Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
​[Isaiah 51:3]
​

​3. It’s a mark of fullness in Christ

Continue to live in Him… overflowing with thankfulness.
​[Colossians 2:7]
​

​4. It ushers us into His presence

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;
​give thanks to Him and praise His name.
​[Psalm 100:4]
​

5. It’s an important part of our worship

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
​for our God is a consuming fire.
[Hebrews 12:28,29]
​

​6. It honours God and brings Him glory

He who sacrifices thank-offerings honours me…
[Psalm 50:23]
​
You are my God and I will give thanks. You are my God and I will exalt you.
​Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures for ever.
[Psalm 118: 28,29]
​

​7. It opens up the way for His supernatural work in our lives.

He who sacrifices thank-offerings honours me, and he prepares the way
​so that I may show him the salvation of God.
[Psalm 50:23]

Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten (lepers) cleansed? Where are the other nine?
Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’
Then He said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’
​[Luke 17:17-19]

(The word for 'well' in this last passage is ‘sozo’ which means ‘saved’ and ‘made whole’, as well as 'heal'. The leper got more than healing, he received full restoration—because he gave thanks! 

DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

​We are surrounded with blessings if we just take time to look. Not only can we be grateful for the Lord's interventions in our lives, and every spiritual blessing conveyed to us through Christ; but the details of our lives are full of things which God has richly provided for our enjoyment [1 Timothy 6:17].
 
Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk says it well...

​Sadly the video  doesn't complete the thought, by directing the expression of our gratitude to our Heavenly Father, but we can do that ourselves!

​THIS WEEK’S GRACE RHYTHM:

​Rest is about trusting in God's past, present and future provision. In essence it is...

• ​to live in the presence of God,
• in the good of the finished work of Christ,
• in the now provision of the Father,
• and with a confident expectation of good in the future​.​​

Spend some time daily giving thanks for each aspect.

RESOURCES

​See the webpage ‘CHOOSING GRATITUDE for more on this subject.
​
And the following pages give daily meditations as focus for thanksgiving:
REFLECTIONS ON THE CROSS
REFLECTIONS ON THE RESURRECTION
REFLECTIONS ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE BLESSING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

NEXT WEEK: WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH
Choosing thankfulness when things are not going well.

GET IN TOUCH!

Why not download the 30 Days of Gratefulness
​chart below, fill it in, and send it to me
​at [email protected]?

[Photo credits:  Marcos Paulo Prado (man);  30daysreplay social-media marketing (heart) @ Unsplash, with thanks]