GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
From The HeartPublish date: 07/26/2009
Deuteronomy 28:47 (AMP) says that all these curses shall come upon you, “because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of [mind and] heart [in gratitude] for the abundance of all [with which He had blessed you].”
God keeps all of His promises. His promises are conditional. If we fulfill the conditions, we walk in the blessings. One of the things which will sabotage the blessings in your life is ungratefulness. Most people have no idea that joy and happiness do not come from outside of themselves, through circumstances or from other people, but it comes from inside. Happiness is a choice we make. Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be!”
Some of the happiest people in the world are not the richest – they are some of the poorest. Their lives are simple and they are grateful for most of the things that people in wealthier nations totally take for granted. Deuteronomy 28:47 talks about the abundant blessings of God. You would think that the more blessed people are, the more grateful they are, but it seems that the opposite is often true. It is when we are very, very blessed that we must remind ourselves to give thanks where thanks are due.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (AMP) says, “And beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. But you shall [earnestly]
remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
If the devil cannot stop our success or get us to fail outright, he will try to puff us up with pride to trip us up. If he cannot prevent God’s blessing in our lives he will either try make us think that we were responsible for our own blessing and become arrogant, or he will cause us to take it for granted and become ungrateful. We could keep all God’s conditions and experience His blessings, but then throw it all away through not giving Him thanks. If gratefulness is so essential to walking in God’s continued blessing, let us proceed to count our blessings and to give God thanks for all we have and all He has done – no matter how big or small it is.
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15 KJV
It is no longer necessary to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices, but the sacrifices God still accepts are the submitted heart and the sacrifice of praise – the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. Giving thanks is an integral part of praise. You can’t praise Him without thanking Him.
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 KJV
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:15-17 KJV
Thanksgiving is a natural part of our walk with God. As believers, we have acknowledged that God is the source of our life; He is the Alpha and Omega; our Creator and our Lord. Everything we have is His and from Him. We have nothing of ourselves and can do nothing for ourselves. Jesus paid the price for our abundant life and we owe Him everything.
“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:5-7 KJV
“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 KJV
David was a man after God’s own heart – a praiser and worshipper of God. He appointed specific Levites whose job it was to praise and thank the Lord all the time. 1 Chronicles 16:4 KJV says that, “he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel.”
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy
lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” Psalms 92:1-2 KJV
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Psalms 69:30 KJV
“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Psalms 95:2 KJV
“O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.” Psalms 105:1 KJV
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4 KJV