We’ll be taking our Bible text from 1 Thes 5:16-18:
16.) Rejoice always, 17.) pray without ceasing, 18.) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
The word “everything” in verse 18 talks about everything – good and bad situation inclusive. Just like the acquisition of most virtues, you can’t instantly become thankful. You only become thankful when you habitually practice gratitude in your daily life.
What does it exactly mean to have a thankful heart?
A thankful heart is a heart full of gratitude for the things that God has done and continues to do in and through our life.
A thankful heart is a state of consciousness that unrepentantly acknowledges God in everything.
It is also the only way that God can use our lives as a living testimony of His love, kindness, mercy, and grace.
The next big question, How do you develop a thankful heart? The practical steps to developing a thankful heart.
- Be Intentional (Be deliberate and be purposeful):
Developing a thankful heart is an intentional action. Make sure that you choose to be thankful each day. Regularly practice giving thanks.
Thankfulness rather than complaints should be your heart’s default position.
When you see something good in your life, point it out. You don’t wait for a milestone achievement to be thankful for every single step of the journey. Psa. 34:1 says: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
You become intentional but reconditioning your mind and remind your soul of the goodness of God. According to (Psa. 103:2 – Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all His benefits)
- Be Irrational (Unreasonable, baseless, ridiculous, and crazy):
Being irrational in your state of gratitude is to choose to be thankful for no specific reason. You don’t have to wait for a tangible substance of evidence to be thankful.
It is to be thankful when for instance you hold a lay off letter in your hands and you still say thank you God for a new beginning of greatness. For a new opportunity for enlargement.
It is a kind of thankfulness, beyond the circumstances. Showing that gratitude does not depend on our situation, it must be offered even in the worst of times.
A typical example in the Bible is the situation of Job. Let’s look at the scriptures:
Job 1:20 – Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
Job 13:15 – Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him
Job 14:14 – all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes.
When you become irrational in your thankfulness, you wait in thanksgiving – between your prayer request and the manifestation; you wait and walk in thanksgiving and gratitude.
While you are believing – that’s your waiting time. You must be thankful.
Now let’s look at the value of Thanksgiving.
- It guarantees the stability of current blessings:
In Mal. 2: 2 – “If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart.”
The good health is from God, not just only from your healthy food choices. The Peace you have around you isn’t because you are careful. Always remember that. Take it to heart and give God the glory.
- It guarantees the multiplication of available resources:
According to Jer. 30:19 – “Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify
them, and they shall not be small.”
The multiplication and glory mentioned in this verse starts with Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving creates a multiplier effect on what appears to be insufficient just like the miracle of the multiplication of five loaves of bread and two fishes (John 6:1-15).
Say these prayers:
Lord, every day of this month, let thanksgiving proceed out of me in Jesus name.
In this last month of the year; Lord Multiply me exceedingly
