The BEST holiday celebration should be thanksgiving. Every one of us has a reason to be grateful and although anytime is the right time, it’s especially proper when the reason for the season is “GRATITUDE.”
God has given us instruction in His word that in order to worship Him, we should enter His gates with thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4 (ESV) — 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
That verse would indicate that the way to God is protected by a gate and the only way to enter the gate is with gratitude. If you are expected to have an audience with God in worship or prayer, the way to enter is with thanksgiving. You would think that with this instruction we would be grateful – but wait, God has given us more. His word shows us that God demands thanksgiving, no matter the circumstances of life.
Colossians 3:15 (ESV) — 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 4:2 (ESV) — 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) — 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
After all, there is not a person who can say that they have achieved, earned, or been the cause of what they have. The truth is clear, we have what we have as a gift from God.
1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) — 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
You would think that we are sitting on “ready” desiring to express gratitude to God, but we tend to be like the nine lepers who were healed but failed to return to Jesus to express gratitude.
Luke 17:11–19 (ESV) — 11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
We would do well to take heed to that lesson and be ready to give thanks for all things. Maybe we need to make a list. Did you know that is good for you – physically, mentally, relationally, and very often financially?
Grateful people experience fewer aches, pains, and other physical setbacks. It makes sense because expressing gratitude releases good through your body so that it’s even been noted that grateful people heal faster than most people.
Grateful people experience better relationships, which makes sense. Which would you rather be around – a grateful person or a crabby person? Gratitude is a counter to aggression because it promotes empathy.
As you might expect, grateful people sleep better. In documented studies they found that those who journal, writing out their gratitude in listing things for which they are grateful, slept much better than those who did not.
If you want to improve your self-esteem and your mental strength, learn to be grateful by taking time every day to express gratitude.
Of course, for a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ it’s not a matter of just expressing gratitude, it’s a matter of turning to God and recognizing the magnitude of blessings that have been lavished upon you by His mighty hand of mercy.
Psalm 100:3 (ESV) — 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Don’t you love to read Psalm 23? That’s the Psalm about trusting the great shepherd of the sheep. The call for gratitude is to remember how the shepherd has cared for you, provided for you, and protected you. Wouldn’t it make sense to turn and say, “thank you?”
Psalm 23:1–6 (ESV) — 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
It’s time for gratitude. Not just because it’s the time of the year that we call Thanksgiving, not just because it’s good for us in many ways, but because God is deserving of our heartfelt gratitude every day of the year.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Check out our podcast, The PowerBreak Podcast, wherever you download podcasts or from the website: www.bobbrubaker.com.
