A Heart of ThanksgivingSample

Giving Thanks

When I was a new Christian, people would often start testimonies saying, ‘I want to thank God for saving me,’ before they talked about specific answers to prayer. I didn’t ask why they did this, but it seemed right. Then I read Psalm 100, and I could picture the ancient Hebrews thanking God as they entered the gates of the Tabernacle and praising God as they came to offer sacrifices. I learned that throughout the Psalms, thanksgiving almost always relates to salvation, so how fitting it is to thank God for salvation first. Over the decades, I made this my daily practice, thanking him for salvation through Jesus’ blood, shed at Calvary, that cleansed my sins and made me accepted before God. 

The next step is to praise God for things He’s done. Not doing this is like wrapping a box with decorative paper and giving it to someone but, when they open it, there is nothing inside. Similarly, praising God for specific things is putting content into that gift. 

Then, worshipping God is appreciating Him for who He is, and reflecting on His character revealed in His many names. Without making this a ritual, I found this the most beautiful way of starting time with God in prayer each day. 

Thus, we deepen our relationship with God, making us more like Him. When we are grateful and appreciative, we become positive and encouraging, emanating a quiet joy, peace and security. Wherever we go, people notice, and may even ask, ‘Why are you so happy?‘ What a great opportunity to say, ‘I have a relationship with Jesus, and His peace and joy is what you see. You can have that too.

Written by DAVID SMETHURST