Thanksgiving naturally follows confession and forgiveness! We did not put it in
third place right next to worship lest we be tempted to think that worship and
thanksgiving are the same thing. They are not. Thanksgiving is a distinct act of
the will. It recognizes the hand of God and is thankful. It chooses to give God
credit for what he has done, and what he has promised, while worship praises God
for who He is.
In Everything Give Thanks
Thanks giving is to be as much a part of the believers life as breathing. We
are exhorted to live in thankfulness to God, and to exalt him with continual
expressions of thanks regardless of our present circumstances.
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
(2 Thessalonians 5:18)
In prayer we are exhorted to give thanks profusely for the goodness of the Lord,
for all his benefits, for his mercies, for his faithfulness, for his steadfast
love, for loads of blessings. Psalm 100 is an excellent guide for entering the
presence of God. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with
praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless His name." Unthankfulness, and silence
curses God’s name. It brings shame.
Ingratitude
It was Israel's ingratitude of heart, the murmuring, the complaining, the
grumbling, that brought on the wrath of God. It was not that God had not
blessed. He had over and over again! It is that men soon forget the goodness
of the Lord. We are quick to forget his answers to our prayers, His mercies in
our troubles, His healings when we are sick, His forgiveness when we fail, His
provisions in our need. Well did the psalmist groan in Psalm 107 "O Give thanks
unto the Lord, for He is good...Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his
goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
The Psalms are filled with expressions of thanks to God on every side. Oh, may
our lives, our lips, be continual psalms of thanksgiving! The apostle Paul
commands the same principle in the New Testament, regardless of the
circumstances we are to be thankful and think on the good things the Lord has
done. "Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God
which passes all understanding shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
Good Mental Health
Good mental health begins with a thankful attitude of heart. "A merry heart
does good like medicine...He that has a merry heart has a continual feast."
(Proverbs 15:13 / 17:22) Depression and discouragement is the inability to see
the goodness of God around you. David frequently expressed his depression, "I
had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of God in the land of the
living." (Psalm 27:13) The eyes of faith see the goodness of God even in the
midst of adversity. God’s purposes, plans, and provisions are always good!
Remember, He is working it out. Be thankful while He works it out. (Romans 8:28
and Jeremiah 29:11)
Forget Not All His Benefits
Forgetfulness of God's multiplied blessings is sin. Forgetting or neglecting to
give Him thanks is the sin of ingratitude - at least it is taking God for
granted. D.L. Moody in commenting on Psalm 103 said, "I can't remember all his
benefits and blessings, but I dare not forget all of them either." Thanksgiving
is remembering God's good gifts and giving Him the credit due his name.
- Psalm 103:2-5 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
- Psalm 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits..."
- James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Thanksgiving Is a Sacrifice to God
Hebrews 13:15 points out that thanksgiving is a sacrifice to God. "A sacrifice of
our lips", that is to be offered up to God continually. Thanksgiving is not
easy. It is tough to be thankful and express thanks from the heart for
everything. Wouldn't prayer be wonderfully transformed if we would offer 10
sacrifices of thanksgiving for every request we make of God.
Helpful Hints
- Thank God for His Creation, your own body (Psalm 139:14)
- Thank God for His provisions. For everything you have. List each thing for which you are thankful.
- Thank God for people He has put into your life. Name them by name and what you are thankful for.
- Thank God for little things. Start with the smallest things you can think of for which you are thankful. From there work toward the bigger things he has done. Never start with the big lest you despise the small. Do not despise the day of small things.
- Thank God for hard things. "In everything give thanks...for this is the will of God..." Thank God for the trials and adversities that come to make us strong. They are what make us lean on Him. So thank Him!
- Thank God for everything. Keep a notebook handy in which you write down your thanksgiving list. It helps!
Use these Psalms to guide your thanksgiving. Pray the Psalms. Mark them as "Thanksgiving" in your Bible:
Psalm 103; 104; 105; 107; 111; 118; 124; 126; 136; 139
Be Thankful
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Be
thankful unto him and bless his holy name." Psalm 100.
Now it is time to celebrate His specific acts, mercies, faithfulness, kindness, benefits, blessings, answers to prayer, and goodness of God.
- General Thanks for all His creation and blessings.
- Specific Thanks for blessings and benefits to you.
- Tearful Thanks for all things - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Practical Disciplines Workbook
Thank God for Past, Present, Future
- Thank God for 5 – Past Answered Prayers and Blessings
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- Thank God for 5 – Pleasant Circumstances & Blessings
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- Thank God for 5 – Bad Things That Have Happened
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- Thank God for 5 – Promises of What Will Happen
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"Faith is seeing what is not yet visible to the rest,
but what God has already promised."
Promises To Use In Prayer
PRAYER
Isaiah 65:24 ...before they call I will answer...
Psalm 37:4 ...delight in the Lord, he gives desires of your heart...
Psalm 37:5 ...commit your way to Lord, he will bring it to pass...
Jeremiah 33:3 ...call on me and I will show you great and mighty things
Jeremiah 32:17-18 ...you have made heaven...nothing is to hard for you...
Matthew 18:19 ...if any 2 agree...touch...ask, it will be done...
PEACE
Isaiah 26:3 ...keep you in perfect peace...
Isaiah 32:17 ...work of righteousness will be peace...
Jeremiah 29:11 ...the thoughts I think toward you are peace, not evil...
Psalm 37:37 ...the end of the upright man is peace...
PROTECTION
Psalm 91:3 ...he shall deliver from snare, pestilence, terror, arrow...
Isaiah 54:17 ...no weapon formed against you will prosper...
Isaiah 43:2 ...when pass through water it will not overflow you...
Jeremiah 15:20 ...I will make you a steel wall, they will not prevail..
Psalm 5:11-12 ...those who trust you, shout for joy, you defend them...
SUPPLY
Psalm 34:10 ...lions do hunger…but you shall not lack any good thing...
Psalm 37:25 ...I have not seen the righteous forsaken or begging...
Philippians 4:19 ...my God shall supply all your need...
II Corinthians 9:8 ...God is able to make all grace abound to you...
SUCCESS
Joshua 1:8 ...then you shall make way prosperous, and have success
Psalm 1:3 ...whatsoever he does it shall prosper...
Romans 8:28 ...all things work together for good to him...
STRENGTH
Isaiah 40:29 ...He gives power to the faint...
Isaiah 40:31 ...they that wait on the Lord renew their strength...
Isaiah 41:10 ...fear not for I am with you...I will help you
Isaiah 41:13 ...the Lord will hold your right hand...
II Corinthians 12:9 ...my grace is sufficient for you...
DELIVERANCE
Psalm 34:17,19 ...the righteous cry and the Lord hears and delivers from trouble
Psalm 34:7,8 ...angel encamps around those who fear Him...
Isaiah 59:19 ...when enemy comes like flood...Lord will stand against him
DIRECTION & LEADING
Proverbs 3:6 ...In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths...
Isaiah 30:21 ...you will hear a word behind you saying, 'this is the way, walk in it'
Proverbs 16:3,9 ...commit you way to the Lord ...and your thoughts will be established...
Psalm 37:23 ...good mans steps are ordered by the Lord
Isaiah 58:11 ...the Lord will guide you continually...
Psalm 32:8 ...I will instruct & teach you the way to go...
FEARS
II Timothy 1:7 ...God gave not the spirit of fear, but of sound mind..
Isaiah 41:10 ...fear not for I am with you, I will help you..
Isaiah 41:13 ...fear not I will help you...
Psalm 34:4 ...I sought...He delivered me from all my fears...
SOULS
Psalm 2:8 ...ask of me and I will give heathen for your inheritance...
Psalm 126:6 ...he who sows and weeps...shall bring sheaves with him...
II Peter 3:9 ...Lord is not slack...not willing any should perish...
YOUR CHILDREN
Isaiah 54:11-13 ...all your children will be taught of the Lord...
Psalm 127:3 ...children are a heritage of the Lord...your reward...
Isaiah 59:21 ...my words will not depart out of your seed's mouth...
Isaiah 44:3 ...I will pur out my Spirit on your seed and offspring...
Proverbs 22:6 ...train up a child...when old...he will not depart from it..
WISDOM
Isaiah 50:4 ...Lord gives me tongue of the learned to know how to speak..
Psalm 19:7 ...The law...is perfect...making wise the simple...
Proverbs 1:7 ...Fear of the Lord is beginning of knowledge...
James 1:5 ...lack wisdom? Ask of God that gives liberally to all men...
FORGIVENESS
Psalm 86:5 ...thou Lord art good...ready to forgive...
I John 1:9 ...If we confess our sins, He is faithful...to forgive...all..
Isaiah 1:18 ...though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow
Isaiah 43:25 ...I am He that blots out transgressions...
ABILITY ABOVE IMPOSSIBILTY
Jeremiah 32:17,27 … Ah Lord God… there is nothing too hard for you…
Philippians 1:6 ...he that began a good work in you will perform it 'til.
Acts 20:32 ...the word of His grace… is able to build you up...
Ephesians 3:20 ...able to exceedingly abundantly...by power in us...
Jude 24 ...able to keep you...present you faultless...
HEALING
Exodus 15:26 ...I am the Lord that healeth thee
Psalm 103:3-4 ...who forgiveth all...healeth all thy deseases...
James 5:15 ...the prayer of faith shall save the sick...
Matthew 8:17 ...He took our infirmities and carried our deseases...
SLEEP
Proverbs 3:24 ...you shall lie down and you sleep will be sweet...
Psalm 4:8 ...I will...sleep for you make me dwell in safety..
Psalm 127:2 ...for so he gives his beloved sleep...
WORD OF GOD
Isaiah 55:11 ...shall not return void...shall accomplish and prosper...
Jeremiah 23:29 ...Is not my word like a fire...like a hammer
Acts 20:32 ...which is able to build you up and give you inheritance
Hebrews 4:12 ...is quick, powerful, sharp, piercing, dividing, discerning..
2 Timothy 2:9 ...word of God is not bound...
2 Timothy 3:16 ...is profitable for doctrine, reproof, instruction...
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Copyright 1992. All rights reserved. No portion of this
may be copied, filed, or republished in any form without the express written consent of the author
Richard W. LaFountain. It may be used in the church context for prayer training as long as
the copyright and web address remains printed thereon.
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