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◄ Being Thankful►

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Definition and Importance

Being thankful, or gratitude, is a fundamental aspect of Christian life and worship. It involves recognizing and appreciating the blessings and grace bestowed by God. Thankfulness is not merely an emotional response but a conscious acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and goodness. It is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of a grateful heart in maintaining a close relationship with God.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible consistently encourages believers to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness. In the Old Testament, thankfulness is often expressed through offerings and sacrifices.Leviticus 7:12-15 outlines the thank offering, a voluntary act of worship to express gratitude to God. The Psalms are replete with calls to give thanks, such as inPsalm 100:4 : "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name."

In the New Testament, thankfulness is further emphasized as a hallmark of Christian living. The Apostle Paul frequently exhorts believers to be thankful. In1 Thessalonians 5:18 , he writes, "Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." This verse underscores the idea that gratitude should be a constant attitude, regardless of life's circumstances.

Expressions of Thankfulness

Thankfulness can be expressed in various ways, including prayer, worship, and acts of service. Prayer is a primary means of expressing gratitude, as seen inPhilippians 4:6 : "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Worship, both corporate and personal, is another avenue for expressing thankfulness, as believers gather to praise God for His goodness and mercy.

Acts of service and generosity also reflect a thankful heart. When believers recognize the blessings they have received, they are often moved to share with others, as an expression of gratitude to God. This is illustrated in2 Corinthians 9:11 : "You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God."

Theological Significance

Thankfulness is deeply rooted in the understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. It acknowledges God's sovereignty, grace, and provision. A thankful heart is a response to the recognition of God's ultimate authority and benevolence. It is an act of humility, acknowledging that all good things come from God, as stated inJames 1:17 : "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow."

Moreover, thankfulness is transformative, shaping the believer's perspective and fostering a sense of contentment and joy. It guards against bitterness and envy, promoting peace and unity within the body of Christ.Colossians 3:15-17 highlights this, urging believers to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" and to "be thankful," allowing the word of Christ to dwell richly among them.

Practical Application

In practical terms, cultivating thankfulness involves intentional reflection on God's blessings and faithfulness. Believers are encouraged to develop habits of gratitude, such as keeping a gratitude journal, regularly participating in communal worship, and engaging in acts of kindness and service. By doing so, they align their hearts with God's will and experience the fullness of life in Christ.

Thankfulness is not contingent on circumstances but is a steadfast response to God's unchanging nature. As believers grow in their faith, they learn to see God's hand in every situation, leading to a life marked by gratitude and praise.

Topical Bible Verses

Psalm 118:1-18
O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.
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Colossians 4:2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
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Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
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Colossians 3:15-17
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.
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Library

The Sect Everywhere Spoken Against
... We must disentangle these various threads as best we may, onlybeing thankful to
know that this bewildering habit of Nicholas von Laufen is a matter of history...

Knowledge. Worship. Gratitude.
... commit them. Thirdly, let us view the consequences, or, what comes of men
not glorifying God, and notbeing thankful. Then, fourthly...

Thankful Service.
... If we arethankful we do not grudge what we give, we feel that we can never... the rule
for members to bow to the throne, although it is empty, asbeing the seat...

Thanksgiving Versus Complaining
... words written on it: "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward
me?" And she was asked by her niece, who believed inbeing thankful, to put...

1 Thessalonians v. 12, 13
... pass. For he who is convicted and reproved, be he what he may, is sure
to cease frombeing thankful, and to become an enemy. In...

Inexcusable Irreverence and Ingratitude
... I wish, dear friends, that you could go out of this state of not glorifying
God, and notbeing thankful. Surely, you only want to...

On the Fall
... Even if he had given upbeing thankful to God; even if he had learned from the devil
to believe that God grudged him, envied him, had deceived him, about that...

Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth...
... 2. Ofbeing thankful to him for making this truth known in the world, and particularly
in the place where we were born, or had our abode; and yet more for that...

The Day of Atonement
... When the people saw him they attended him to his house with joy, and they offered
burnt offerings of praise on that day: hebeing thankful that his life was...

Thankful for Anything.
... pencil and paper and asked her if possibly there was one thing for which she could
bethankful.... When he wasbeing hunted over the Judean fastnesses by King Saul...