Guest Post by Bro. A.J. Pregony (Mt. Victory Baptist Church)
God's people are invited to enter His courts with thanksgiving and praise. He longs
for us to fellowship with Him and to express our gratitude for the countless ways He
has blessed our lives.
Cultivating a spirit of thankfulness takes intentionality, as highlighted in Psalm 92:1-
2.
It’s important to ask ourselves: Are we consistently thanking God for all that He has
done for us?
The Bible provides powerful examples of gratitude. Consider the demoniac, who,
after experiencing profound deliverance, eagerly shared the transformative work of
the Lord (Mark 5:19-20). David expressed his heartfelt thanks for his dear friend
Jonathan and recognized the Lord as his Shepherd, declaring that his cup overflows
with blessings (Psalm 23:5). There’s also the woman who washed Jesus' feet with
her tears, a beautiful demonstration of her deep gratitude for His forgiveness (Luke
7:37-38).
As a child of God, think about the various ways you can extend your thanks. Have
you expressed gratitude for being delivered from a challenging situation? Have you
recognized a friend for their unwavering support and honesty? Did you take a
moment to thank God for His guidance in your everyday life or for the gift of
salvation? We are to give thanks always for all things unto God (Ephesians 5:20;
Colossians 3:17; I Thessalonians 5:18).
There are countless reasons to praise God, and it’s completely understandable to
feel overwhelmed at times. My gentle challenge to you today is to try giving thanks to
God daily. We are to “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually” (Hebrews
13:15).
We should also remember to express our gratitude to those around us—our parents,
pastors, friends, and anyone who has made a positive impact in our lives. Taking the
time to write a note or send a message can mean so much to them and reinforce
those important connections.
Truly appreciating what we have requires understanding our dependence on the
Lord. Without Him, we may feel like we have little to hold onto. As Jim Elliot
beautifully put it, we are a bunch of nobodies serving Somebody—Jesus Christ.
Look at the story of Daniel, who continued to praise God even in the face of danger,
or Paul, who maintained a heart of gratitude during his imprisonment.
They remind us that acknowledging God’s control over our lives can bring peace,
even during trials (Romans 8:28). I know it can be tough to be grateful when we face
challenges. It’s easy to express thanks when life is good, but our faith truly shines
when we can thank God in difficult times. This is where trust becomes vital—we may
not see the end of our trials, but we can trust that the Lord will be there for us,
guiding and providing for our needs.
Remember, you are not alone in this journey.
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