INTRODUCTION
What are Thanksgiving and Thanks-Living? Thanksgiving is expressing our gratitude to God for all he has done for us. What we had last Sunday was an event; a Thanksgiving Service to appreciate God for his blessings upon us for the year. But, beyond Thanksgiving Sunday, our duty is Thanks-living that is, living a life of gratitude daily, all the days of our life. A thanks-living is living a life of praise and thanksgiving no matter what the circumstances may be.
Two persons exemplify Thanks-living in the Bible, they are David and Paul. Incidentally, these two personalities went through excruciating experiences in their lives. Their painful experiences could have kept them back from praising God, but that was not the case. Rather, as we see in the above texts, they made constant praise their lifestyle and urged believers to praise God at all times. Learn to praise and worship God the more in your difficulties.
WHY IS THANKS-LIVING NECESSARY?
FIRST: The Scriptures commands it (Psalm 34:1-4; 71:14-15; 1 Thes.5:18).
“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
(Psalms 34:1-3 NKJV).
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
(I Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV).
SECOND: because God’s love for us is everlasting. He has loved us with an everlasting love. The Psalmist says, His lovingkindness is better than life (Eph.2:4-5; Psalm 63:3).
“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 2:4-5 NKJV).
“For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the LORD, who has mercy on you” (Isaiah 54:10 NKJV).
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.”
(Psalms 63:3 NKJV).
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (I John 3:1-3 NKJV).
THIRD: we have to live a life of Thanks-living because of His mercy or his compassion upon us last forever (Lk.1:50; Lam.3:22-23).
“And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.”
(Luke 1:50 NKJV).
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
(Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV).
FOUR: we are called to a life of Thanks-living because God is forever Good towards us.
“The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”
(Psalms 145:9 NKJV).
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” (Psalms 23:6 NKJV).
FIVE: Thanks living is desirable because God is faithful.
“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 NKJV).
Six, Thanks-living is necessary because of what God has prepared for us in the future. Eyes have not seen what he has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor.2:9; Psalm 91:14).
“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (I Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV ).
SEVEN: Thanks-living should be our lifestyle because God has given us the Holy Spirit who abides with us forever. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF PRAISE AND HE ENABLES US TO LIVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS PRAISE
EIGHT: we have to live a life of Thanks-living because the dead cannot praise God; therefore praise Him now that you are alive.
“The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor any who go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!”
(Psalms 115:17-18 NKJV).
NINE: Thanks-living is desirable because you were created to praise God, to show forth his praise (1 Pet.2:9).
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9 NKJV).
TEN: Thanks-living is good because there is power in praise. Praise attracts the power of God. Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits or is enthroned in the praises of his people. Praise releases the power of God into situations and circumstances.
Austen C. Ukachi
