I REMEMBER AND I’M THANKFUL
The Psalmist got so used to thanking God that in almost all his writing he expressed one form of thanks or the other. King David often said: I’m thankful, I give thanks, I’m grateful, I remember, I cannot forget, and I appreciate, etc. He saw so many reasons to thank God. Psalm 30 is a song of thanksgiving and praise by one who has gone from security and prosperity to near death and deliverance. He was a man after God’s own heart that enjoyed God’s grace and mercies. David saw the hand of God in every situation and circumstances of life. Even when he failed God, He was quick to repent from his heart and returned to Him in praise and thanksgiving. He experienced God’s saving grace and protection from enemies; cried to God and received healing in return and on his way to the grave God restored his life. He experienced that God’s anger lasts for a moment but His goodness lasts for a lifetime; the same God turns nights of tears into a new dawn of joy. What are thanks: Literally thanks are described as expression of gratitude, gratefulness and appreciation. We say, I thank you or thanks, I appreciate and I’m grateful. Gratitude is pleasing thankful appreciation for favor received. ‘Gratitude takes three forms: a feeling in the heart, our expression in words and giving in return’ – John Wanamaka. Thanksgiving is a formal public expression of thanks to God. George Herbert prayed, “Thou has given me so much…give me one thing more, a grateful heart.”
Why do we give thanks? Thanks is a sign of gratitude [Isaiah 12:4-5]; The scripture commends it; It’s pleasing to God [Heb 13:15]; Thank a giver and he gives more [Behavior rewarded is behavior repeated]; It demonstrates inward/ silent appreciation of thoughts; for being our creator and that of the universe; for the gift of salvation – Jesus and the Holy spirit; He’s good and His mercy endures for ever; His faithfulness remains, no matter what [Psalm 100:4-5]; has sovereignty over all his creation; He’s our shield, Refuge, Strength, Helper even in times of difficulties; For His unspeakable gift [of protection from terror by night and arrow by day and as we pass through the valley and shadow of death]; for His unfailing love.
How do we give thanks? Giving thanks is good but how we do it is more important. The attitude of the heart matters a lot to God. Our desires and thoughts and physical domino should be to give glory to God and good pleasure.
- By expression: oral – telling God, the person or others – witnessing; written Apostle Paul wrote letters [Psalm 75:1; 92:1-2; 136:1-3].
- By behavior / attitude: Elizabeth thanked God for remembering her at old age [Luke 1:24-25].
- By presentation [presenting for dedication: children, house, cars and self etc [John 12:3].
- Fulfillment of vows [1 Sam1:26-28].
- By testimony: The Samaritan woman proclaimed: come and see the man who told me everything [John 4:28-29]; the 40 year old blind man healed by Jesus said: I know I was blind but He made me see. [John 9:25].
- By doing it to another person [1 Peter 4:10].
In Thanksgiving [2 Cor. 9:6-8; Luke 14:1-4; Luke 17:11-17]:
- willing from the heart
- not grudgingly or arrogantly
- not compulsion [by force]
- but cheerfully, joyfully and lovingly. You can give without love but you cannot love without giving. For God so love that He gave……… [John 3:16].
We can express our gratitude [1 Tim.1: 12 – 17; 105:1-2; 107:1-3].
- In supplication; when only God matters. E.g. we are hurt to a point that we have no other person than God to console and comfort us. Every other person or thing or situation is irrelevant and unimportant. Only God and only Him, no other.
- In praise and adoration: We come, give thanks and glory to God for who He’s and the great things He has done. We uplift our heart to Him and recognize Him as our Creator, Maker and Sustainer as well as our end.
- Intercession [1 Tim 2:1; 2 Tim1: 1-5]. We could love someone through prayers. Uphold others: family members, love ones, the sick, mourners, leaders in Church, community and government as well as our enemies; everyone that God has put on our ways.
- Thanksgiving: We are good when asking God for something but somehow quick to turn our back on Him the moment we’ve got it. We appear to forget so easily His manifold blessings and fail to return thanks to God. {Luke 17: 17-19] One out of the ten lepers returned to give thanks and was made whole. Thanksgiving is a demonstration of gratitude and is a daily affair. “Be thankful for what you have, you will end up having more, if you concentrate on what you don’t have you will never ever have enough” – Oprah Winfrey. We should know that life is not a chance and we don’t live by luck. We are not God’s accident but God’s children. He created us for His glory and good pleasure; to praise, magnify, and appreciate His grace, mercies and provision. We should not forget his benefits [Psalm 103:1-5].
My father often said a child who earns #100 [dollars] and does not remember his father will not remember him if he earns #1000, #10000, #1000000, [dollars]. He said there are always things competing for our treasure, time and talents. There are always problems to solve, things to cater for that deplete the money away. He could start a new business, build a house, invest in stocks, buy new cars or replace furniture. He could even begin to train the girl that he plans to marry at school or play lotto in order to get more. In simple economics, we learnt lessons on wealth, scarcity and opportunity cost. It teaches that money is scarce but there are many opportunities to expend it on. We have to apply the opportunity cost concept because supply is limited and demand is high. The same apply to real life situation. We always have a top on list preference. If God is not our number one, some other thing is: money, lust, greed, covetousness, gain or ego; the 3 W’s: wine, weed and woman, etc.
God seems to know the ingratitude in human nature that He reveals to Apostle Paul to prophesize for the times we now live in. We are living in terrible days and are lovers of ourselves, lovers of money, proud, ungrateful… lover of pleasure rather lovers of God [2 Tim 3:1-2]. Many remember God’s manifold blessings but postpone thanking Him. This is an evil tendency to deny us additional blessings. Others simply assume that it’s their right for God to bless and favor them. Some make vows and pledges when they are asking for God’s favor but forgets it no soon after they received the blessings. Like Oliver Twist, they ask for more. Some when blessed by God claim they are lucky. They do not know God is not a grocery store or Supermarket; that wealth is scare and upliftment comes from God [Psalm 75:6]. God gives us power to get wealth [Due 8:18] and every good and perfect comes from God [James1: 17]. Some people claim they are grateful at heart but do not express it; they find it difficult to say I thank you. They could smile at you to show they are pleased with the gift but it’s not in their character to say thanks. Feeling grateful and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it – William Arthur Ward. For example: Women love praises. They usually keep records of what they do. When men fail to match it with equal expression of praise and thanks, they make them feel the pains of their ingratitude. Don’t ask me how!
The reason God blesses us: God blesses us for various reasons:
- to establish Himself as our source
- to reveal His nature as a giver
- to give us opportunity to become givers
Man hoards, Satan steals but God gives. God knows all He has done for you; don’t forget them. God knows how much or little you have. Your obedience to God’s word always secures God’s attention. God holds us accountable for 3 T’s – Talents, Time and Treasure [money]. The three walk together and God deserves all [Mark 12:38-44 – The widow’s gave what and all she had]. Whatever you sow, is what you reap. [Sow money and reap money, mercy for mercy, etc]. Jesus promotes expectation [Mark 11:23]. A television Evangelist and Preacher, Mike Murdock teaches, “You use what you have to create what you need. Whatever you let go, God replaces it more by what He holds for you. Your seed blesses another but your harvest blesses you. God had a son, Jesus but wanted a family; So He planted his best seed on the cross to produce a glorious family, the body of Christ. Little wonder we are urged to joyfully praise and worship Him in His good pleasure.” The Psalmist said, “You have turned my sadness into joyful dance, I will not be silent, I will sing praise to you; Lord, you’re my God, I will give you thanks forever [Ps 30:11-12]. Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but also the parent of all the others – Cicero. The Lord has been awesome to us that it’s only appropriate to carefully return thanks to Him. Let us therefore join the songwriter to sing,”We just want to say thank you, my Lord.”
Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill can be reached by email:gkapin53@yahoo.com