Read Psalm 100
It is an incredible privilege to come into God’s presence. He invites us to come “with confidence to the Throne of Grace, so that we can receive mercy and find the grace we need in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). We are also to come “with thanksgiving” (Psalm 95:2; Psalm 100:4).
“With thanksgiving” is a vital component in a well-rounded prayer life. We are to “devote ourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2 NIV) The prayer acronyms ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication) as well as ACTION (which breaks down supplication into interceding for others, obedience to God’s revealed will and personal needs), both include giving thanks. As children of a gracious and generous God, we should constantly say “thanks”!
At an early age, we teach our children to say “thank you.” A dozen times a day a parent prompts, “What do you say?” When my daughter was little she would quickly follow her requests with “ pleasethankyou!” It was all one word. Her logic was: say the magic word, get it over with, and then expect an immediate response. If we are not careful, we can have the same childish attitude about telling God “thank you.” We want the guarantee that we get what we ask for, so included it in our prayers though we really do not feel very thankful at all.
“With thanksgiving” is not a password. It is a choice. Colossians 3:15 tells us to “be thankful.” We are to be thankful “in everything” (Philippians 4:6), “in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), “always” and “for everything” (Ephesians 5:20). But, God doesn’t want our words; He wants our heart (Isaiah 29:13). “Thank you” is the polite thing to say. Being grateful is the right thing to be. Colossians 3:17 says that whatever we do should be an act of gratitude. When things are rough, when we are stressed and distressed, when what we receive is different then we want or expect, choosing to be thankful is really tough. More often then not, it requires an attitude check and adjustment.
The key to having an attitude of gratitude is the awareness of God’s unwavering presence. It is His nearness that allows us to set aside our anxiousness, lay our requests in His able hands and receive a peace that comes from His presence and assured involvement (Philippians 4:5-7 and Psalm 145:18). It is a matter of truly trusting that He is bringing all He is into our circumstances and working in it for grace and glory.
Who God is and all He has done for us is reason enough to continually be grateful (Psalm 136:1-3,26). In Matthew 8:4 (The Message), Jesus says, “Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” Gratitude needs to be a defining attitude. Actually it is the one attitude that sets us aside as genuine followers of Christ (Romans 1:21 and Colossians 2:6-7). We need to choose to make every day Thanksgiving Day (with or without pumpkin pie). “Let your living spill over into thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:7 The Message.)
Making It Personal
Does your life say “thank you”?
Why is a thankful attitude a required element in glorifying God? (Colossians 3:17)
How does believing in the sovereignty of God help you to be thankful? (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11; Job 42:2)
How does God’s word and spending time in worship help adjust your attitude to one of gratitude? (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18-20)
God’s word is full of reasons why we should be thankful to the Lord. As a thanksgiving challenge, look up each of the following verses. Note the reason given, and then, using a personal example, take a moment and express your heartfelt gratitude.
