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Why Should I Thank God?By Ayobola Olusegun-Emmanuel
Bible Reading: Psalm 136; Psalm 103 Song: I will enter His gate with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter His court with praise; I will say this is the day that my Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad He had made me glad, oh, oh, I am so glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad (2x). Psalm 136 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! 4 To Him who alone does great wonders, 10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, 23 Who remembered us in our lowly state, 26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul; 6 The Lord executes righteousness 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, 15 As for man, his days are like grass; 19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, 20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Bless the Lord, O my soul! What is Thanksgiving? The first definition of ‘Thanksgiving’, is: “The expression of gratitude; especially to God.” (Online Dictionary) The second description by the same online Dictionary is that: in North America, thanksgiving is a yearly public holiday honored by religious celebrations and a customary meal with turkey. The holiday also honors a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, marked in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. And a related holiday is also observed in Canada, typically on the second Monday in October. (The season we are currently in.) Considering the above two definitions, evidently, the first one specifically describes Thanksgiving as the demonstration (expression) of appreciation (gratitude) to God; not to , or any other being or thing. God alone deserves all thanksgiving; He deserves to be honoured with appreciation (thanksgiving). By Whom? By you and me, and by every living creature of His hand; “Let everything that had breath praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6). Praise is a way we express our thanksgiving to God. However, it is common to see “thanksgiving” being celebrated in October or November (as the case may be), without having an understanding of who to thank. It is sometimes viewed just as a recurring commemoration yearly; as a tradition observed by families or group, without recognising the reason behind it, or to whom thanksgiving is ascribed. In fact, while gathering around the table for “Thanksgiving meal“ yearly, it has become a tradition, and a common phrase to say: “I am thankful for….” The question, however, is: To whom are you thankful? Is it to ‘nature’ ? Is it to ‘mother earth’? Are you thankful to God? “Oh, give thanks to the Lord…” (Psalms 136, 107). Thanksgiving is not just for a particular season - October or November. Should this be the case? I do not think so since the Bible states: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”(Eph. 5:20). Do you know that you should thank God? Do you know why you should give thanks to God? Of course, You and I should thank God. So, Why Should you and I Thank God? The list is endless, but the three major reasons for thanking God, which underlie, and as well, embrace all other reasons, are 3 attributes of the God our Father; namely: - Unfailing Love, - Unfailing Mercy, and - Faithfulness. Notably, these three, are connected or interwoven because, God’s love, accounts for His mercy and faithfulness to mankind. So, they are inseparable, which explains why different Bible translations either use love/mercy/loving kindness/faithful love KJV - O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. NIV - Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. NLT - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. NASB - Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. CSB - Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. ISV - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his gracious love is everlasting. ICB - Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love continues forever. *** God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness account for all the countless reasons why we need to be ever thankful to Him as long as we live, evidently shown in God’s Word as we will see in this message.
Copious Bible verses about God’s wondrous works for mankind are based on God’s love/mercies/faithfulness. Psalm 136:1-26; each verse evidently confirms that everything God our Father does, is propelled by His mercy and love for mankind. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us; that we should be called the sons of God…. (1 John 4:3) “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8) “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19) God’s Love for us made Him give His only Son Jesus as a ransom for our sins. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 ) NIV “4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” ( Ephesians 2:4-8) NIV “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:23-25)
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy….11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him….13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him….17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. (Psalm 103:8,11,13,17) KJV. God is Good all the time “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1). “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentation 3:23) “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin …” (Exodus 34:6-7). “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) …”(Ephesians 2:4) “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments …” (Deuteronomy 7:9). “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” (Psalm 25:10). “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15). “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.”(Psalm 89:14). “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” (Psalm 145:8-9). “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19). “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.”( Mark 6:34). “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18). “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
We should thank God for His everlasting faithfulness; He remains the covenant-keeping God that adheres by His promises towards us all; specifically those who hold trust Him to bring to pass whatsoever He has promised. Several Scriptural verses confirms God’s faithfulness towards us all from the beginning, and even till the end. God declares Himself faithful to Moses, in Exodus 34:6 “The Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” God was Faithful to Abraham and His seeds, as his servant declared in Genesis 24:26-27 while he bowed and worshipped the Lord on behalf of Abraham: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master….” And as Abraham’s descendants, we are still partakers of that faithfulness till now. Numbers 23:19 states that “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Deuteronomy 7:9-11 further confirms God’s faithfulness, mercy, and love to the faithful: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” Psalm 33:4 “For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.” God, in His faithfulness, has also given us all things In Christ, that we will ever need till His return, and even in life after: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9: “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” *** It is quite obvious from the Scriptures that, God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness underlie and covers all the abundant benefits you and I enjoy every moment of our life, which explains why we should give thanks to God. Some other the benefits we enjoy, covered by God’s love/mercies/faithfulness, that we often overlook, but for which we should be thankful are as follow: - He created all things; Genesis 1 - He is mindful of us and has given us dominion over all his works: Psalm 8 - For forgiveness of Sins: For not dealing with us after our unrighteousness; If the Lord should mark iniquity, who can stand? (Micah 7:18) “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Ephesians 4:32 – “….forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” John 1:7-10: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - Thank Him for His great works: You and I are a part of His wondrous works; we are wonderfully made by Him. Consider the miracles of sleeping and waking up. How about the excellent functioning of our body organs. How about the wisdom He has given to men to create (even though some think, there is no God). Psalm 111:2-8: “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.” - He is the great God; King above other gods (Psalm 95:3). - He reigns Rev. 11:17 - He is God over all; from the beginning to the end: Psalm 145:13-15: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.” - Thank Him for His protection and guidance. Psalm 31:3-5 : “For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” - Thank Him for directing our paths: Psalm 25:8-10: “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” - He keeps us from temptation: God is faithful, He Keeps us from falling into temptation, and faithful to preserve us till the end: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13:8 “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” Hebrews 2:17-18: “….For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3: “….For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” We should thank Him for His faithfulness that keeps Him near us at all time Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” - We should thank Him because He cannot deny Himself. When God says it, He will do it. 2 Timothy 2:11-13: “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.” - Thank Him for His Word that is forever settled in Heaven. Psalm 119:89-90 : “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.” Hebrews 10:23:“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” - He does wonderful things: Isaiah 25:1 :“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” - Thanksgiving is obedience to God’s Word; written by men He inspired to do so. And if we love Him, we will do His will. - A Thankful heart is a Christlike heart; It is the nature of Christ, which is expected of every child of God. While on the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ never did anything without first giving thanks to His heavenly Father. Matt. 11:25; Lk. 10:21- Jesus Thanked God for hiding things from the wise but revealed it to babes. Matthew 15:36 before feeding the multitude with 7 loaves and a few fishes. Mk. 8:6 – before feeding the 4000 followers John 6:11 – before feeding the 5000 John 11:41 – He gave thanks to His Father for answering his prayers; even before he raised Lazarus from death. Luke 22:17-18 – He gave thanks before sharing wine at the Passover meal Luke 22:19 – before breaking bread Matthew 26:27 – before sharing wine Matthew 26:30 – They sang hymns afterwards (an attitude of thanksgiving) Mark 14:23 – At the last Super. Jesus gave thanks in advance even for His death at Calvary. No wonder, everything Christ did was made possible, full of power because His father backed Him up. Jesus recognized the Source of His strength, and always acknowledged and thanked Him, hence God was moved to back Him up at all times. So, the same is expected of us particularly, the co-heir with Him. We emulate Christ when we live a life of thanksgiving to God. There is great reward for obedience. - Thanksgiving is a significant tool in prayer as taught by the Lord Himself (Lk. 11:2). He practised it through out when He was on earth. - Thanksgiving is an act of faith that God has already answered even before we asked. As seen above, Jesus expressed this specifically on several occasions while on earth. No wonder, He received quick responses from heaven for miracles whenever He lifted up His voice in thanksgiving to the Father (Matthew 15:36; Mk. 8:6; John 6:1; John 11:41), and God was always ready to glorify Himself again and again on Christ’s behalf (John 12:28; 17:1-5), because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I would say thanksgiving is like a passport to receiving answers to prayers; as evident in the life of Christ on earth. It could also move God into action on our behalf, no matter how long it takes. - Thanksgiving to God allows room for the peace of God in our hearts. Philippians 4:6-8 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Thank Him because He gives us strength: He is our strength and shield Ps 28:7 - He gives us victory – Thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ(I Corinthians15:57) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) - Thank God because He is my/your Deliverer. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."( Psalms 20:7)
Thank God for Provisions: God is our provider; our Jehovah Jireh, our present help in times of need. Psalm 23; ….The Lord is my Shepard…. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19) - Thank God For healing/health. God is our Divine Healer; the Balm of Gilead. - “….If you will diligently listen and pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep [foremost in your thoughts and actively obey] all His precepts and statutes, then I will not put on you any of the diseases which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26) Psalm 34:19-20: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Psalm103:3: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases…. By the stripes that our Lord Jesus received, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). - He is our strength and help in times in times of trouble: ‘For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 43:13) “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) He is forever near. Psalm 145:18 - Thanksgiving to God is an act of gratitude; it a way to show that we value God and all He has done. psalm 100; 116:12-14 - Thanksgiving is the fruit of our lips "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15) - Thanksgiving to God is a strong weapon against the enemy. It propels God to move on your behalf Thanksgiving to God in praises gave Jehoshaphat and his people victory over God’s enemies (2 Chronicles:20). In the form of shouts and trumpets, by Joshua and the Israelites, it brought down the walls of Jericho. In the form of Psalms with instruments and dance It gave David victory over all his enemies at home, in the deep forests, and in battles (Psalm 18; 26:7; 30 2 Samuel 22 etc.) Hezekiah did by appointing priests and men in their applicable services for ministrations in thanksgiving and praise unto to the Lord at the gate of the Lord’s tents (2 Chronicles 31:2). - Thank God because the Bible says so. It is God’s will. Therefore, Thanksgiving is a command since the Bible is God’s Word written by men inspired of God 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 107:1; Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 5:20; Psalm 100:4; Psalm 50:14; Colossians 3:17; Colossians 4:2 etc.) - Thanksgiving is God’s Food - It draws us closer into God’s Presence; It is the way to come into His presence psalm 95:2-3;100:4 - Thank Him because he is the only One Who can do all things. Luke 1:37 - A thankful heart will receive more of God’s blessing; even the ones you did not ask for. (David, Solomon, Hannah, etc) - Not thanking God means we are forgetting His benefits Psalm 103 - If you love Him, you will thank Him Roman's (8:28.) Apart from our Lord Jesus Christ, other examples of people that thanked God in the Bible are: Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron, with other women joyfully gave thanks to God with tambourine and dance for victory over the Egyptians and the Red Sea (Exod. 15:20-21). Hannah gave a quality thanksgiving prayers to God for answered prayers, for a son whom he also gave back to God (1 Samuel:2) - David did, for victory in battle and over his enemies (2 Sam. 22:1-51 and lots of Psalms), Other writers of the books of Psalms gave thanks (Psalm 111), Solomon during Temple - King Solomon thanked God for all he had done to provide for Israel in his prayer of dedication (1 Kings 8:14-21), - Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, Thanked God for fruitfulness and removing her shame (Luke 1:24-25). Mary the mother of Jesus, with a thankful song to God for being chosen as the vessel for God’s Son (Luke 1:46-55). One Leper out of the ten lepers, whom Jesus Healed returned to thank the Lord, (Luke 17:11-19). Paul gave thanks to the Lord severally, and encourages all to be thankful(Romans 6:17; Romans 7:25; II Corinthians 9:15; Colossians 1:3, 1:12; I Thessalonians 2:13 etc.). Who Should Thank God? Everything living thing; including you and I! “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6) When Should I thank God? - At all times; every moment. In every situation; In good times in bad times. In happy moments and not so happy moments. - When challenges intensifies. When it seems all hope is lost because it is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thes 5:18) What Should I Thank God For? Thank God for everything: Ephesians 5:20 How Should I Thank God? Thanksgiving/praise/worship work together. - Genuinely, with spirit, soul, and body; because needs true worshippers. Worship is a way of thanking God. (John 4:24) - With musical instruments: Psalm 150:3-5; with the sound of the trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, and dance, with stringed instruments and organs, upon the loud cymbals; high sounding cymbals. - With voices, songs psalm 69:30 - With shouts from a Joyful heart psalm 95:1-3 - From our lips: Heb 13:15 - Individually and corporately Eph 5:18-2: 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Phil 4:6-7; Col 2:6-7; Col 3:15-17; Col 4:2; Heb 12:28-29 Where Should I thank God? - Anywhere; in your heart: - Always in God’s presence, In His temple; amongst brethren (Psalm 35:18) “Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.” (Psalm 150:2) *** Live a life of consistent thanksgiving as the God desires. Questions to Consider: - Do you give thanks to God? - Are you faithful in thanksgiving unto God? - Is your heart right with God to be able to truthfully thank Him? You can make it right with God now by asking Jesus into your life, so that your thanksgiving can be acceptable. *** As we celebrate Thanksgiving in this season marked, let God be in the center of our celebration; the One to Whom we give all thanks, because He alone deserves all thanks. Prayer: - Father please, have mercy on me; in anyway I have been ungrateful to You in the past, please, forgive me, in Jesus name. - Oh Lord, please help me; let my heart always be full of thanksgiving to You, in Jesus name. - Whatever is taking away Your thanksgiving from my heart and mouth, oh Lord, let it expire from my life now, in Jesus name. - I receive a thankful heart, afresh from You this hour, oh Lord, in Jesus name. - Breath upon me afresh oh Lord; I receive the grace to thank and praise You genuinely, in all circumstances, henceforth, in Jesus name. - As I thank You now, oh Lord, let my thanksgiving be acceptable unto You, in Jesus name. - Begin to thank God in words and in songs now for Who He is, all He has done, all He is doing, and all He will do. In Jesus name. Halleluiah! Amen! God bless you!
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