Psalm 107:1 tells us to give thanks unto the Lord, or we call it thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not just something we do one a day of the year or just one month of the year but is really an attitude of gratitude, that should be practiced every day of our lives. Here are five brief principles to help us in our giving of thanks to the Lord.
- Thanksgiving should be directed to God – If I could give you a million bucks, and did I am sure one of the first things you would say is, "Thanks you" and you would be saying that to me, the one who gave you the million bucks. So often this time of year we are hearing a lot of people say, "I am thankful for...." and that is wonderful, but the one to whom the thanks is directed is missing. The Psalmist said, Oh give thanks unto the LORD.
- Thanksgiving should be freewill, volunteer, cheerfully given to God - Thanksgiving is something we should enjoy doing, not simply because it is expected of us, or thought rude not to say it.
- Thanksgiving should include action (thanksgiving is a verb, not an adjective) - This is done by taken every opportunity to publicly thank the Lord for every thing that comes our way.
- Thanksgiving includes fellowship - Leviticus 7 talks about the offering of thanksgiving. In it are very detailed instructions on how they were to eat this offering as well. Thanksgiving is a feast of wonderful things that often brings the body of Christ together in a greater way than anything else.
- Thanksgiving Brings God’s blessing and approval. When the thanksgiving offering was done acceptably and obediently by the law given, God was very pleased. It must have touched the heart of God to see someone bring their offering to the altar without being forced to, or because they had done some terrible thing, but because they loved God, and wanted to thank Him for what he had done.
So it is with us when we offer to God our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, God must look down in love and adoration.
Helen Keller that lady who was both blind and deaf one said, “for three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that he has vouchsafed me knowledge of His Works; deep thanks that He has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to- a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song."
I can’t help but think that as Helen Keller was making such a statement or as she came daily to God with these things that the Lord would stand to His feet, while the angels would stand around wiping the tears away from their eyes. What a scene it must make in heaven when God’s people give thanks.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
