Thankfulness is Gratitude to God for the Blessings. Let us see from where we left in the last article about Power of Thanks. We will study from the Word of God about the features of Thanksgiving :-
- Spiritual Sacrifice – Psalm 116:17 says – “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.” Yes Thanksgiving is a form of Sacrifice in the Kingdom of Heaven. When we thank God, Lord sees our heart and remembers as a pleasant sacrifice in HIS sight.
2) Thank for other believers – Philippians 1: 3 says
” I thank my God upon every remembrance of you”
2 Thessalonians 2:13 says
“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth”
Yes we should Thank God for our fellow believers, for their Faith, for the miracle of Salvation, for revealing to us the truth, we should remember the Lord for HIS Goodness. The above verse clearly says that it is our duty (bound) to give thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit.
3) Pattern of Prayer – As per the book of Philippians 4:6
” Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”
When we Pray to God, it should always be accompanied with Thanksgiving to God. When people pray only handful of them Thank the Lord along with Prayer but rather wait for the prayers to be answered. But it is the other way around, we must pray with thanksgiving to God. Taking our eyes off our circumstances and praying to God with a joyful heart and thanking God in every situation pleases God.
4) In Heaven even the Elders and the Angels Thank the Lord – Revelation 7:12
saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”
Lord JESUS has taught us in Matthew 6 that As the will of the Lord is done in Heaven, so it be on this earth. Therefore as a Heavenly pattern and in obedience to God we should Thank the Lord. As HE is in Heaven so are we on this earth (Bible). So my friends we should be heavenly minded and thank the Lord. We have to practice heaven here on this planet earth. It creates an atmosphere of heaven.
5) Quality of the righteous- Psalm 140:13 –
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence.
It is the quality of the righteous that they give thanks to the Lord. We consider Lord JESUS as our righteousness then if we are HIS children, we should reflect the Lord and being the righteousness of God, thank the Lord.
6) For the Revelation – Matthew 11:25
“At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”
Thank God that Lord chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and not only that but Lord reveals HIS word to HIS people. We being babes get the revelation from God the Father. Lord is merciful, gracious and compassionate.
7) For the Victory – 1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank God for the Victory in every area of our life. Victory in the Spiritual realm, in the natural realm given on the Cross by our Lord JESUS CHRIST. HE IS JEHOVAH NISSI – our Banner.
