Thanksgiving to God - Ben Bailey

Thanksgiving to God

Ben Bailey

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).  With the recent Thanksgiving holiday upon us, many are counting their blessings.  But shouldn’t thanksgiving be an everyday event instead of a once a year holiday.  To the child of God, everyday is a day of thanksgiving.  But, what should we thank God for?

“…Proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works” (Psalm 26:7).  Christians should be thankful for all that God has done for them.  These works would include: God’s love (Rom. 5:6-8), God’s mercy (Lam. 3:21-22), God sacrifice (Isa. 53:10, Matt. 27:46), and God’s salvation (Eph. 2:8-10).  Truly, Christians are the most blessed people in the entire world.

“For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:4-5).  The Christian should be thankful for the necessities of life that God provides.  God is the one who provides all our needs (Phil 4:19).  If we are seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, then all else will be provided for us (Matt. 6:33).   Aren’t you thankful you don’t have to worry about such things as where your next meal will come from or what clothes you will wear? 

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (Psalm 95:2).  In this context the psalmist is elated that He can be in the presence of the God of the Universe.  Today, we should be thankful that we are able to have a relationship with God.  We should be thankful that we can call Him father (Matt. 6:9).  We should be grateful that we are part of His family (1 Tim. 3:15).  Truly, it is an awesome privilege to have a relationship with Jehovah!

“ Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2).  May every day of our lives be filled with prayers of thanksgiving to God.  If there is a time when we become unthankful, may we stop for just a moment and think about those who are less fortunate than us.  “ I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD” (Psalm 116:17).