Those years, my Mum would gather us all for devotion. She would spend the first couple of minutes (most times, more than the entire prayer time) thanking God. I had to endure those thanksgiving moments. I felt like; “Can we just go straight to the point?” Little did I know that thanksgiving was the main point. I know better now.
Friend, gratitude is a function of perspective. While there may be a few things you wished had happened in your life before now, there are a lot of other things that have happened. Gratitude says, “I choose to see the roses among the thorns rather than focus on the thorns among the roses.” I would thank God for what could have happened but did not happen rather than focus on the negatives that happened (Lamentation 3:22).
Gratitude is a choice. “Although the fig tree shall not blossom… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18). You can choose to be grateful. It is not because things are bad that you are ungrateful it is because you are ungrateful that things are bad. The same reason for ingratitude can be the same motivation for thanksgiving. It is a choice.
Gratitude is a command. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Thanksgiving is the will of God. It is a command. “And now, o you priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings…” (Habakkuk 2:1-2).
Gratitude is a secret. What you thank God for multiplies, what you complain about diminishes. “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples…” (John 6:11). Like the prophet Habakkuk, you can leverage thanksgiving and rejoicing to gain speed, cover lost grounds and scale new heights (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
May I request today that you commit to giving thanks. It does not matter what is happening to you or around you, you owe God thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:20). If you think deeply you would realize that God has been good to you. I know you have listed prayer points for the year, why not list “Thanksgiving Points” for the year too. You need to be intentional about it. What are you grateful for?
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria