I don’t think I ever realized the multifaceted blessing of a thankful heart until I started making time to intentionally thank God. I like to thank Him in the morning when I awaken—even if it’s just, “Good morning, God, thank you for another day.” Throughout the day, I try to thank Him for simple things that I often take for granted—safety on the road, sight, the sounds of nature, the ability to smell my coffee, the peace of His presence, my health, my job, etc. I often pray myself to sleep by thanking Him. Even when I wake up in the middle of the night—sleepless—I begin to dig deep into thankfulness and remember all the miracles He has done for me AND through me. [For example, what a humbling experience to be part of Chris Dieman’s story! Devotional from September 21, 2022] The time spent thanking God is a game changer, because…
Each remembrance of God’s goodness returns our heart to Him.
As thankfulness turns my heart towards God, the blessings overflow and I can’t help but share His goodness with others! Thankfulness changes my entire outlook and is a powerful influence on those around me! This should not be a surprise to us, because Jesus said:
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:45
Ah, how powerful it is to have a spirit of thankfulness. It draws people to their Savior. It gives hope and peace and even influences….unborn generations! I was reading this passage from Psalms 78:
“Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will utter…sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may ARISE and DECLARE them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and NOT forget the works of God, but KEEP His commandments.”
Psalms 78:1-7
If you read the entire Psalm, you will see that the Psalmist goes on to recount the many, many miraculous works God did for His people. He concludes:
“So He shepherded them according to the integrity of His heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of His hands.”
Psalms 78:72
Thankfulness inspires great hope in God!
Thankfulness helps us see that God is our greatest guide and that HE deserves our full allegiance.
No one cares for us like He does!
No one gives us the miraculous kind of life that God does!
Practice thanking God and you will be surprised at how it transforms your life to become powerfully influential for His glory!
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