A key aspect of changing our mindsets (see CREATING NEW MINDSETS, the introduction to this section) and developing ‘kingdom thinking’ is in choosing gratitude. Gratitude produces thanksgiving, and thanksgiving affirms our delight and trust in the God who richly supplies all our needs.
The Greek word for ‘thanks’ used in the New Testament, is ‘eucharisteo’. At its centre are the words ‘charis’ which means ‘grace and favour’, and 'chara', which means ‘joy’. At the very heart of our thanksgiving is God’s grace towards us, and our joyful response.* |
1. Thanksgiving ‘prepares the way’ for us to experience the ‘salvation of God’, in all its wonder.
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] The Hebrew word 'yesha', translated 'salvation' in this verse, (which is at the root of Jesus’ name in Hebrew, Yeshua) includes deliverance, rescue, safety, welfare, prosperity and victory in its meaning.
Thanksgiving is our vocal declaration of faith in the Lord Jesus who gave everything so that we could have abundant life. Thanksgiving puts us in the ‘way of God’, and is an essential expression of the life of rest and peace. When Jesus healed the ten lepers [Luke 17:11-19], only one, a Samaritan, came back to thank Him. Jesus’ response was to say that his faith had made him ‘well’. (This is the Greek word, ‘sozo’ which includes ‘wholeness, deliverance, restoration and salvation’ in its meaning.) Not only did the Samaritan receive healing like his friends, but thanksgiving opened the door to a whole box of goodies! |
DAILY LOVE GIFTS
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God loves us passionately, and our lives are filled with demonstrations of His love:
that sunset, this flower; that child’s embrace, this piece of music.....
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK…
Why is gratitude important? What does the Bible say about gratitude? HAVE YOU GOT A QUESTION? |
ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
We have also received every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms [Ephesians 1:3], where we are seated with Christ! We are to partner with Him in releasing these blessings in our spheres of influence.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours. [Mark 11:24] |
God works all things together. All things. This being so, we can be thankful for everything, even the annoying parts of our day, believing He is working out His purpose in our lives, and covers everything with His grace. Allowing thanksgiving to flow in the ordinary mini-trials of life enables us to experience rest and peace in His arms, and to release that grace to others—the driver who cuts us up, the telesales person... our nearest and dearest! |
TRIALS AND DEVASTATION
Then what about the big stuff? We live in a fallen world and devastation is all around. But the New Testament is clear: Jesus came to destroy the Devil's works [John 10:10,
1 John 3:8] and gave His followers the same mandate [Mark 16:15-18]. Victory was won decisively on the Cross, and believers have been tasked with enforcing it. |
When the Evil One appears to triumph, thanksgiving marks our trust in the One who brings light in the darkness, and covers everything with His grace and love. www.rhythmsofgraceuk.org/choosing-gratitude Click to Tweet |
THANKSGIVING CHALLENGEIt's important to make our thank-offerings aloud—our words have power [see THE POWER OF THE SPOKEN WORD].
But also consider recording blessings: in a list, a psalm, a song, a drawing, a photograph... Be creative. The act of recording makes us slow down, and reinforces the sense of blessing in us. How much blessing can you record in 30 days? |
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