We have talked about getting quiet and alone with God to hear His voice. But today we are going to talk about thanksgiving, about having a thankful heart.
One of the requirments to a good relationship with someone is being thankful. If we are not thankful for our friend, or mate, things just won't work out. Our relationship will sour. Just so, God wants us to be thankful to be in relationship with Him. He tells us to enter into His presence with thanksgiving. In the Psalms we read,
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."[1]
He admonishes us to give thanks in everything that happens including the bad and the ugly, because through thankfulness and praise and faith, He can transform the most horrible event into something that teaches deep and important lessons of life and love. That's one of the beautiful and comforting promises in His word,
"All things work together for good to them that love God."[2]
Nick with no arms and legs says, "I've never met a thankful person who was bitter, or a bitter person who was thankful. It's one or the other."
God has told us that He lives in the praises of His people, not in their complaints.
"But Thou are holy, O Thou that inhabits the praise of (his people) Israel."[3]
In II Chronicles 20 you can read a chapter in the Bible where praise and thanksgiving were used to give Judah a great victory over their enemies. Praise turned an impossible situation into one where God could work.
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."[4]
"Be careful for nothing (or don't be worried); but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God."[5]
Just read through the Psalms. They are songs of praise and thanksgiving to God and reading them will help you to be thankful, also. Being thankful will help you not only in your relationship with God, but with all your friends and acquaintances.
Make an effort to be a person full of thanksgiving. Others will like it and you'll find you will like it, too. God bless you as put thanksgiving into practice.
To read the article The Importance of Being Praiseful click on the title.
Notes:
[1] Psalm 100:4
[2] Romans 8:28
[3] Psalm 22:3
[4] Thessalonians 5:18
[5] Philippians 4:6
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