City of GraceSample

Give Thanks

There are two magic words that tend to go far with most people—please and thank you. Most of us are taught from a very young age to use them. We were told to say “please” when making a request, and to respond with “thank you” when that request was granted. 

In our relationship with God, saying “please”  probably comes fairly easy for us. We come to Him with our needs and wants and expect Him to fulfill our desires. Saying “thank you”  to Him may not be as common for us. Sure, when we have a prayer answered or receive an amazing blessing, it’s much easier to give thanks to God. His goodness is displayed in a very tangible way, and it’s natural and easy to respond with gratitude. But, how do we offer thanks when things are falling apart in our lives? We do exactly what the lyrics of this song say:

I will give thanks
I will give thanks
For all that You’ve done
And yet to do

When we thank Him for the things that He has yet to do, we are putting our trust in God. Being able to thank God despite our circumstances is where faith comes into the picture. We’re told in Hebrews 11:1 that faith “is the evidence of things we can’t see.” 

So, how does this play out in our daily lives? We thank God for providing for us even though we don’t know how He’ll do it, for never leaving us when we feel alone, and for strengthening us when we feel weak. Gratitude and faith truly do go hand in hand. 

When you respond to your circumstances with a grateful heart, unspeakable joy follows. And with joy comes an unexplainable freedom that tastes so good it’s almost palpable. This is when you start to see the good in life more than the bad. 

God is worthy of our gratitude. He sent Jesus to die in our place so that we could have a relationship with Him. His care for us is unmatched. He is trustworthy, good, and faithful. No matter what is occurring in our lives, God is still worthy of praise. 

What can you give thanks to God for today? For every request you bring to Him, offer Him thanks for what He’s already done and what He’ll continue to do.

Central Live released the City of Grace EP on October 2, 2020, and it’s available wherever you stream music. Visit Central.Live for more information.