Ephesians 5:20 NKJ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Hebrews 13:15 NKJ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

The Bible exhorts us to embrace a lifestyle of thanksgiving. But what is thanksgiving exactly? It is an expression of gratitude to our mighty God, who is the source of all blessings in our lives. Thanksgiving is the heartfelt response to God, for all His goodness and faithfulness. It is the acknowledgement of Him who is the giver of all things.

1. Thankfulness is a command, not an option (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

The scriptures remind us that being thankful is not an option. True thankfulness goes beyond just feelings. Instead, it invites us to focus on God’s constant presence, His faithfulness and promises in our lives.

The word “thankful” has its root in the word “thoughtful”. It means taking time to reflect thoughtfully on our blessings, which in turn produces gratitude. When we consciously stop, pause and reflect on God’s greatness, gratitude arises automatically. There are great examples in the Bible we can take encouragement from.

In Daniel 6, we read of Daniel who when faced with death, continued his life of prayer and thanksgiving to God.

Psalm 119:62 NKJ At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

The 4 living creatures in Revelation 4:8 did not cease to praise God, day and night, saying “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty”. This posture of gratitude must be woven into our prayers, our praise, our daily lives (Philippians 4:6).

The Hebrew word for “thanksgiving” in Psalm 100:4 is towdah. It means an extension of hands in adoration, confession and sacrifice of praise. Thanksgiving is an intentional, outward expression of our hearts to acknowledge and to celebrate God’s goodness. Moses reminded the Israelites in the wilderness to be thankful for they had lacked nothing because God was with them (Deuteronomy 2:7). Today as we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remember that God has been faithful, so let us be grateful. The hymn by Johnson Oatman tells us to count our blessings, to name them one by one. Let us develop a habit to pause and to reflect on God’s goodness daily (Psalm 92:2).

Being thankful to God helps us to keep our focus on God, and thus honours and magnifies Him, as it acknowledges God’s Lordship over our life. Being thankful helps us to see our problems in the right perspective. “Give thanks to the Lord His mercy endures forever” is repeated 26 times in Psalm 126. Thankfulness strengthens and reinforces our faith in God.

What are the possible reasons for not being thankful in our lives:

• We have an ungrateful heart (2 Timothy 3:2-3)
• We become negative and discontent (1 Timothy 6:6)

2. Thankfulness is to be continual in our lives (Ephesians 5:20)

How do we have constant unwavering thankfulness?

a. Thanksgiving must be unceasing (Numbers 28:24) 

As children of God, we are called to give daily dedication of praise (1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 13:15). Therefore, thanksgiving is a spiritual sacrifice. Did we remember our offering of thanksgiving to the Lord as we came to church this morning?

b. Uninhibited thanksgiving (Psalm 108:3)

It is acknowledging our gratitude to God for all circumstances and all people, whether believers or unbelievers.

3. Thankfulness that is comprehensive

a. Thankfulness for all things (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

This includes not just during happy, joyful, easy times, but also during times of difficulty and sorrow (Leviticus 23:40). On the Feast of Tabernacles, the Israelites were commanded to rejoice before the Lord waving palm branches. Palms symbolise victory and good times. Willows symbolise difficulties and difficult times. We are commanded to wave both palm branches and willows, being confident that God is in control of all things.

We see this clearly in Corrie ten Boom’s testimony in her book The Hiding Place. When she and her sister Betsy were transferred to a prison camp in Germany, it was one of the worst camps – over-crowded and infested with fleas and bugs. Betsy reminded Corey to give thanks in all circumstances. But Corey questioned, “How can I give thanks to the Lord for such a terrible place?” But in obedience, Corey began to wake daily and thanked God for everything. Over time, the sisters realized the prison guards did not visit their barracks often. Because of that they were able to hold bible studies, prayer meetings, and many people were turning to the Lord. The fleas and bugs stopped the guards so that God’s work could continue. In our natural eyes we see things differently, but God has His purpose!

b. Thankfulness in all things

One thing that remains absolutely constant in every situation is that God is always with us (Hebrews 13:5). God’s assisting presence is with us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. God’s presence allows us to lift up our hands to Him in gratitude even in the most difficult times. Nothing pleases God more than when His children remain grateful and thankful in all circumstances. Given all that God has done for us, we must learn to cultivate and posture our hearts to have a heart of gratitude for every day in our lives. May God help us to become a people of thanks!

A thankful heart is a happy heart. Let us allow God to remove the blockages in our lives through thanksgiving.

AMEN.