November 17, 2024
"Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name.
- Psalms 100:4
One key approach to building a deep relationship with God and provoking His power is through thanksgiving. Here, our focus is on thanking God, not to receive an answer to a problem, but instead to build intimacy with God and to please Him. In a relational relationship with God, our desire when thanking God is to honour Him, to decorate Him. Imagine being so enveloped in God’s presence, decorating Him with medals as in a military ceremony rather than solely focusing on thanking God to receive benefits from Him.
When we focus on thanking God to honour Him, closed doors begin to open in our lives. Thanksgiving is the master key that opens all doors. In Mark 6:41, the well-known story of feeding the 5000, Jesus paused to give thanks and honour God. In this, a situation of scarcity was miraculously transformed into a testimony of overflow and abundance. Similarly, in John 11:4 at the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus lifted His hands to thank God and the most stubborn force, death, was defeated. Anyone who is serious about provoking the power of God must be somebody that is sold on thanking God.
When we focus on thanking God to honour Him, closed doors begin to open in our lives. Thanksgiving is the master key that opens all doors.
Thanksgiving should be a lifestyle for us as Christians, not a one-off thing, or something we do in a shallow way as part of our prayers. It should come from the depth of our hearts. It should replace murmuring and complaining which is so much more common and easier to do, especially when we are facing challenging times and situations.
When we get into this practice and lifestyle of thanksgiving, we begin to see ourselves, our situations, and most importantly, God in a new light. Gratitude transforms our attitude, and eventually, our experiences and relationship with God. And just like a parent is pleased when a child expresses sincere thanks, and wants to bless the child even more, God is always pleased when we express thanks. And similarly, He becomes poised to give you more to be thankful for as you deepen in your relationship with Him and the practice of thanksgiving.
Song of Worship
Be Magnified Oh Lord. Song by Don Moen, Integrity Music
Dear Lord, this day I choose to turn my eyes away from anything that seems not to be going right in my life. I choose to focus on all the wonderful ways You have shown your love to me. How you have shown up for me even in times I was completely unaware. Help me to grow closer to you as I direct my attention and energy Your goodness in my life in Jesus Name. Amen.