1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Hebrews 13:15 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.”
Thankfulness Changes the Atmosphere
Thankfulness is a spiritual weapon that transforms the atmosphere around you. Where there was doubt and complaining, thankfulness stirs up faith and expectancy. Where there was confusion and stress, thankfulness brings peace and rest. When we give thanks, we honor God, and His Kingdom responds!
Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Thankfulness ushers in the presence, the joy, and the peace of God. It is the language of covenant, of worship, and of faith. Even in seasons where we feel there’s little to be thankful for, we can lift up our eyes and choose gratitude. When we do this, our hearts and minds become aware of even more reasons to give Him thanks.
Discouragement cannot thrive where thankfulness abounds. A grateful heart silences the lies of the enemy and opens the door for expectation to reign in our lives!
Think of how thankfulness shifts the spiritual atmosphere in your home, your family, and your church. What are some practical ways you can choose gratitude every day? How can you encourage others who struggle with complaining and/or negativity?
Songs of Thankfulness
Colosians 3:14-17 “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be 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 whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Ephesians 5:18-20 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
Psalms 100:4-5 “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.”
The book of Psalms is overflowing with songs of thanksgiving, and many of them were written in extremely tough circumstances. They were often declarations of praise under great pressure.
Gratitude-filled praise silences the enemy. Why? Because it reminds him that he has already been defeated. When we lift up a song of thanks, we are confidently and boldly declaring that God is FAITHFUL, God is MY DELIVERER, and GOD WILL NEVER FAIL! It is also easier to memorize scripture to song! Let your spirit rise up and sing a song of thanks and praise to the Lord today.
Think of a time when songs of thanksgiving led you into freedom or deliverance. What’s your favorite worship song that fills you with thankfulness?
Thankfulness Infused with Prayer
In Nehemiah’s day, Mattaniah, a worship leader under King David, was appointed to lead in giving thanks during prayer. God has ordained thanksgiving and intercession to be woven together.
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Thankfulness in prayer is a declaration of, “Lord, I believe You’re faithful, even before I see the answer.” I don’t have to beg. I trust You! I don’t have to fear. I rest in You! And as we pray and intercede with thanksgiving, strength and endurance are built inside of us. As we thank Him for the past victories, our expectation is strengthened for what is ahead. There is always more, hallelujah!
How has thankfulness changed your prayer life? Think of some scriptures that have helped you stay thankful in prayer, even when the answers seemed delayed.
Simple Gratitude – For All Things
We can see God’s goodness in everything - great and small. Gratitude for the “little” things opens our eyes to the abundant goodness of our Father!
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above.”
The greatest and most perfect gift He gave is the gift of salvation through His son Jesus Christ. Gratitude keeps us in the state of appreciation, keeping us from taking for granted all of the blessings He’s given us.
Ephesians 1:15-17 “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
This includes being thankful for people, those that have blessed us, and, yes the difficult ones as well. When Paul prayed, he thanked God for every remembrance of those in Philippi. Think about that! He remembered their deep fellowship, and in doing so, it produced thanksgiving to God. We, too, can be such a blessing to others (in various ways) that our lives will cause them to give thanks to the Father. That is powerful. May we live in such a way that we cause others to give thanks to God!!
What are some of the “little” things are you thankful for today? Is there someone who challenged you, but your decision to be thankful changed everything? Who in your life makes you give thanks every time you think of them?
Thankfulness is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. In every season, He is worthy of thanksgiving. Let’s shift atmospheres. Let’s build up the Body. Let’s praise continually and uninhibited! Let’s live our lives with fragrant gratitude to our Generous Father!