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Biblical gratitude is more than saying “thank you” when life is going well. It is a way of seeing God, trusting His character, and remembering His goodness even in difficult circumstances. Scripture teaches us that thankfulness can turn our attention away from fear and discouragement and toward the faithfulness of God. So how can gratitude strengthen our faith and help us remain spiritually healthy?
Biblical Gratitude Begins With Remembering God’s Goodness
A friend of mine sent me a text this morning that read “Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name, it is a wonderful morning and I thank God that I am able to get up and enjoy it.” My friend was quoting from Psalm 103. This Psalm is an inspiring Scripture for every circumstance one finds themselves in.
” Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, (5) who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalms 103:2-5 ESV).
Blessing the Lord with thanksgiving, praise and worship causes us to be God focused and not self focused. Having our eyes on Jesus lifts us up out of discouragement. Stress despair and discouragement can so easily overtake us in situations of life, especially in the times we currently find ourselves in. Lifting our eyes above these to the Lord causes us to see and come to the true answer; the Lord Himself.
My friend who sent me the text was encouraging himself in the Lord. His text also blessed the Lord. A third benefit of his message is; it blessed me. It enriched my life. It encouraged me to arise in my spirit, to be thankful and bless the Lord.
Biblical Gratitude in Every Circumstance
This brings us another key to embrace during these unusual times. The importance of enriching the lives of others. When we choose to bless others, this also takes the focus off ourselves. For some time now God has been speaking to me about enriching the lives of others. I have made it a prayer ” Lord may I bless and enrich the lives of those in need. God will bring opportunities our way to do this. Today my wife asked me if I would help her to wash some floor rugs that are in our house. It seems that she is busy cleaning everything. Fortunately I remembered my prayer. ” Lord help me to bless others.” I was able to view her request as an answer to my prayer. Today one of the projects is washing rugs with my wife.
Each day our lives start with plans. There are projects and goals we have. Our daily plans should always include blessing God and blessing others. One way to see this realized is by having and maintaining a heart of thanksgiving. This basic truth is so very productive as it is functioning in our lives. Scripture instructs us to be thankful in everything.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
In the midst of difficult situations, one question usually asked is, what should I do? The Apostle Paul in the mentioned Scripture instructs us to rejoice, pray and give thanks. Thanksgiving is always appropriate. Giving thanks is the beginning step in our approach to God, the one who has all the answers.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalms 100:4 ).
Thanksgiving displaces such things as bitterness, resentment and hardness of heart. Our choice should be to embrace and practice thanksgiving. Consider the blessing of being thankful compared to the burden of resentment and bitterness.
How Thankfulness Strengthens Your Faith
In Scriptures one of the important pillars of our walk with God is believing Him. One way believing God is shown is through giving thanks in all circumstances. Lord I trust you, I believe you, therefore I will give you thanks, even for difficult circumstances. Giving thanks is synonymous with believing and trusting God. A choice is made between worrying, fretting, complaining, or being thankful. Being thankful is a choice on our part.
Thankfulness is rooted in the character of God and the truth of Scripture. As we get to know God through His Word, our confidence in His faithfulness grows. The prophet Jeremiah was in distress when God revealed Himself to Him in a new way. Biblical gratitude grows as we learn to abide in Jesus and trust His promises, even when our feelings tell us otherwise.
“The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:26-27 ESV).
The Bible is full of examples like this that let us know we can fully trust in the Lord our God. When we give thanks we are expressing our trust in Him.
Thanksgiving is greater than our fears. Fears can cripple a person. Instead of fearing we need to have great confidence in the Lord and express that confidence. We express it to both God and to others we come in contact with. This is what my friend did when he texted me and said “Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all of His benefits…”
Thanksgiving isn’t ignoring the troubles that come our way, rather it proclaims God to be greater than the troubles. The entire chapter 12 of Isaiah speaks of giving thanks and trusting in God. The two go hand in hand.
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.” (Isaiah 12:2-4)
How to Practice Biblical Gratitude Every Day
In considering all of these things we are convinced that our God reigns and He rules in the affairs of man. Our eyes need to be focused on His great care for us and not the difficult circumstances we might find ourselves in. A Song of Ascents. One practical way to cultivate thankfulness is to practice the presence of God throughout the day, intentionally remembering that He is with us.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalms 121:1-8 ESV)
This Scripture doesn’t say that we will not have difficulties. Psalm 121 tells us God is greater than our difficulties.
A message by Wes Talbot.
Wes Talbot is currently on the ministry staff at Starville Church in Marine City, Michigan USA. It is there that he met his wife Terri of forty-six years. God has graciously given Wes and Terri three children. Wes has taught in Churches and Bible Schools in North America, Asia,Central America, and Europe. He is an ordained member of Zion Christian Fellowship in Waverly, N.Y. USA
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Wes Talbot is currently on the ministry staff at Starville Church in Marine City, Michigan USA. It is there that he met his wife Terri of forty-six years. God has graciously given Wes and Terri three children. Wes has taught in Churches and Bible Schools in North America, Asia,Central America, and Europe. He is an ordained member of Zion Christian Fellowship in Waverly, N.Y. USA
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