Expressing gratitude to God is not about trying to twist God’s arm into doing something for us by thanking Him. It’s about genuinely expressing our appreciation and trust in His faithfulness. Have you noticed that some of the greatest miracles in the Bible were preceded by thanksgiving? It seems that whenever Jesus Christ was about to do something profound, He began with thanksgiving.
For example, Jesus gave thanks before multiplying the loaves and fish (Matthew 15:36) and before raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41).
One thing I have discovered repeatedly is that thanksgiving reminds us of God’s faithfulness. It reassures our hearts that He who has done the great things we are thanking Him for is still in the business of doing even greater things.
If you truly believe that God knows what you need before you ask Him, then when you do ask, you will naturally move to the part where you thank Him for answering your request.
Kenneth E. Hagin once shared a story about a missionary who learned the power of thanksgiving through his situation. For the longest time, this man had been praying for God’s intervention, but despite his many prayers, nothing seemed to change.
In the course of seeking God, the Holy Spirit revealed to him the one thing he hadn’t done: to thank God. He had been praying repeatedly but had never thanked God for answering his prayers. This revealed that he hadn’t truly reached the place of total faith and complete trust in God. It was as though he was asking and doubting at the same time. James 1:6-7 says “but let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.
When this missionary began to thank God, realizing that thanksgiving is a demonstration of belief, acknowledging that God hears and answers prayers even before we see the physical manifestation, the breakthrough came!
My Perspective on Receiving and Gratitude as a Mother
I think I can slightly relate to how God must feel. As a mother, I have found it upsetting when my son repeatedly asks me for the same thing over and over again. If he would just give me a few moments to breathe and get moving, he would see that I was already willing to do or give him what he was asking for.
I remember retorting to my son one day, saying, “Ezekiel, I have heard you! When you ask Mommy for something once, it is okay. I’ve heard you, and I’m getting to it!”
That day, it felt as though the Holy Spirit was waiting for me to reach that point just to teach me this very lesson I’m sharing with you.
You see, if you pause a bit and follow the leading of the Spirit, you’ll find that He often uses physical things to explain spiritual truths.
It doesn’t mean that after I corrected him firmly that one time, he immediately changed, but I won’t stop gently and firmly correcting him, knowing that if he gets this right with me, his earthly parent, he will likely understand this principle when he begins to engage more actively with God.
When I teach him how to ask and receive from me, I believe he will likely apply the same approach with God. This is why I believe parents must live intentionally and train their children with purpose, because, to a large extent, they will first encounter God through us. So, how about making the most of their formative years to leave a lasting impression of God through your lifestyle and teaching?
Praise and Thanksgiving Is a Command
The word “thanks” appears 116 times in the Bible, and 73 of those instances specifically instruct us to give thanks. Staying thankful isn’t always easy, but it is possible because God has commanded us to do so. If it were impossible, He wouldn’t have asked us to do it.
People in the United States are truly blessed to have Thanksgiving as a national observance, an opportunity to thank God and honor Him for all He has given us. It’s a time to pause the hustle and busyness of life and reflect on our freedoms, family, friends, and the abundance we enjoy.
In the Bible, celebrations like these were frequent. After every victory, God commanded His people to hold a feast and celebration. It was not optional. It was a command. They would spend several days in joyful celebration, thanking God for His goodness. They didn’t just take His blessings and move on to the next thing; they took time to deeply honor Him. Part of their gratitude was expressed through celebration and by sending gifts to the poor.
For example, when Esther and the Jewish people were delivered from Haman’s evil plot, God commanded them to hold an annual festival to remember His deliverance. Along with this celebration, they were instructed to send portions of what they had to the poor and needy, ensuring their gratitude extended beyond themselves.
