The Power of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100: 4-5 ESV “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to

him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness

to all generations.”

Thanksgiving should be a constant practice for believers, especially when things get tough.

Gratitude comes easily when everything is going our way, but 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In

everything give thanks.”

This includes both good and hard times. But when we don’t understand why God allows us to

go through suffering and trials, we may let our situation extinguish a grateful spirit. Instead of

rejoicing and praising God for who He is and what He’s done for us, we focus on our pain and

confusion and begin to doubt the Lord and His Word. However, when we choose to be thankful

in every situation, despite our feelings, we’ll reap many benefits.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18: Paul commands us to "give thanks in all circumstances". “Give

thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians

5:18). The Lord wants to be thanked for His providence and sovereignty. Jesus wants to

be thanked for taking our sin and making us clean. The Spirit wants to be thanked for His

guidance and comfort.

• Providence because it is God who arranged the things that happen to us. Our protection

and care by God. Ps 121:5-8; Ps 46:1-3; Pr 18:10; 2 Thess 3:3; Ps 34:7

• Sovereignty because He has all power and He is in total control of everything and over

everything. God is powerful and authoritative to the extent of being able to override all

other powers and authorities. Job 42: 2; Dan 4:35; Isa 46: 9-10; Eph 1:11

He is sovereign over every single human decision. We have all kinds of thinking that we do, but

it the end, the Lord decides.

• Prov 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

• Prov 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord

that will stand.”

Thank God for Jesus because, He gives us the victory. We have victory over sin, death, hell and

the grave.

1 Cor 15: 55-57;

Rom 4:25; 5:1-11; 6: 14-18;

2 Cor 2:14 ESV.

Thank God for the Holy Spirit because, he leads us and guide us in all truth. He’s our helper,

comforter.

Jn 14:16-17;

Lk 11:13;

Eph 1: 13-16; 5: 20

• Ephesians 5:20: Paul commands us to thank God "always and for everything".

• 1 Chronicles 16:34, 41: The main reason for gratitude in the Old Testament is "For he is

good; for his steadfast love endures forever!".

• 1 Timothy 4:4-5: "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it

is received with thanksgiving".

DEVELOP A HEART OF GRATITUDE BASED UPON WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR YOU.

Thanksgiving, in its purest form can never be rooted in material things.