Give Thanks

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” 

—George Washington (October 3, 1789)

• No matter the situation we find ourselves in, we need to be grateful.

Grateful means; "to show a deep appreciation for the kindness or benefits received." 

• The number one way a lack of gratefulness is revealed in our lives, is through complaining.

Complain means; "to express dissatisfaction, resentment, to find fault.”       

We live in a society where people are more prone to criticize than to praise, quicker to complain than to thank, and much more ready to vent disappointment before expressing gratitude.

Luke 9:12-17 [AMP], Now the day was ending, and the twelve [disciples] came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging, and get provisions; because here we are in an isolated place.” 13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.”  They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 (For there were about 5,000 men.)  And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.” 15 They did so, and had them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He looked up to heaven [and gave thanks] and blessed them, and broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 They all ate and were [completely] satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were [abundant and were] picked up—twelve baskets full.

1.  The miracle started when He looked up.  

Luke 9:16 [AMP], Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He looked up to heaven…

Looked up actually means; “to recover sight, to receive sight.” 

2.  The right perspective allowed Him to give thanks.

Luke 9:16 [AMP], Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He looked up to heaven [and gave thanks]…

Give thanks means; “to be grateful, to express gratitude, to be thankful.”  

3.  The Father blessed what Jesus was grateful for.

Luke 9:16 [AMP], Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He looked up to heaven [and gave thanks] and blessed them…

Blessed them means; Jesus “celebrated and praised the Father for what He had, then He prayed and asked God to bless it so it could be of use.”

Why being grateful is so important:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 [NKJV],  Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

It is the will of God for us to show a deep appreciation for the kindness and the benefits we have received from Him, and when we don’t, we not only step outside of the will of God, but we actually quench the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Luke 17:11-19 [AMP], While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [along the border] between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance; 13 and they raised their voices and called out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”  And as they went, they were [miraculously] healed and made clean. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying and praising and honoring God with a loud voice; 16 and he lay face downward at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over].  He was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten [of you] cleansed?  Where are the [other] nine?  18 Was there no one found to return and to give thanks and praise to God, except this foreigner?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Get up and go [on your way].  Your faith [your personal trust in Me and your confidence in God’s power] has restored you to health.”

• True thankfulness focuses on the Giver rather than the gift that was given.

1.  God loves gratitude.

2.  God hates a lack of gratitude. 

1 Chronicles 17:16, Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said:  "Who am I, O Lord God?  And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?” 

“See that you do not forget what you were before, lest you take for granted the grace and mercy you received from God and forget to express your gratitude each day." 

—Martin Luther

Psalm 68:19 [NIV], Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears [carries] our burdens.

• Who is packing your parachute?