Do you know that it is easy to give thanks to God when everything we desire is going as planned?
The bills are sorted, the grades are good, no family drama and we have everything people would ever dream of and much more.
But when things begin to fall apart, our gratitude to God diminishes as well.
I think the first thing we probably ask is, “Does God even love me?” “How could he allow this to happen to me?” We question his capabilities as our father.
Our gratitude to God shouldn’t be reserved only for the good times but also for the difficult seasons in our lives.
The true test of our love and sincere gratitude to God happens when life is hard. Do we chicken out or keep trusting God.
It is not enough to sing about his love or post it on our status.
Do you realize how uncomfortable it is to only be with our loved ones during happy times?
God commands us to be thankful in everything because the Father’s will is being carried out.
If we want to strengthen our spiritual muscles, we must still trust God even when we don’t understand how things are going to turn out.
Why Should we give thanks to God in all circumstances?
Giving thanks to God in all circumstances is part of maturing as a child of God.
When circumstances beyond our control arise, we must turn our worries into praising God.
This might not come naturally and that is okay but we will be confused if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to help us.
When Jesus Christ was in a stormy sea He never panicked because He understood that the cross, not the sea, would be where he would die.
That was the reason he slept in the boat while his disciples were afraid.
Jesus could have panicked but he knew the father too well to be afraid.
How to Build A Relationship with God
How can I Be thankful to God?
We can give thanks to God for everything in different forms, đź‘Ź.
1. Singing praises to God-
“Oh that man should praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works.”
Singing praises to God from a sincere heart shows our complete trust in God.
Do not forget that God created us to worship and to be in fellowship with Him. That is our primary assignment.
I know that thanking God in difficult times can be difficult but we were not supposed to do it without the help of the Holyspirit.
2. Speaking about God’s faithfulness –
I will always put my hope in you;
Psalm 71:14-16 GNT
    I will praise you more and more.
15Â I will tell of your goodness;
    all day long I will speak of your salvation,
    though it is more than I can understand.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
    I will proclaim your goodness, yours alone.
Never should we be embarrassed to share what God has done for us.
Our testimony can be the key that unlocks the breakthrough and faith of other believers
Also through our confession, our victory is sealed because the devil likes it when we are mute.
We should not be reluctant to share instances of God’s kindness with others.
3. Seeking God Daily
O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee.
Psalm 63:1a
More revelation about God’s nature and ways of worship is revealed to us as we seek Him more.
Worship in this context means submitting to doing God’s will. Offering a sacrifice of praise.
What are the benefits of giving thanks to God?
The benefits of thanksgiving to God are inexhaustible.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 ESV
1. God lightens our burdens when we praise Him.
There is a sense of peace that passes our understanding when we begin to praise đź‘Ź God.
In the jail, the chains were broken as Paul and Silas gave thanks to God. The doors to the prison were also opened.
No one ever praises God and remains the same.
2. Our spiritual eyes are opened to the mysteries of God’s kingdom.
3. The sick get healed
4. The presence of God stays with us.
5. God preserves a grateful heart.
What Does the bible say about giving thanks to God?
Giving thanks to God for everything commands the attention of God.
Jesus Christ was a perfect example of someone who knew the power of gratitude to God.
He was able to feed over 5000 people through gratitude. The Bible records that he raised the basket of five loaves of bread and some fish and gave thanks.
He wasn’t in any doubt about if God was going to answer His prayers or not.
When Jesus was at Lazarus’ tomb he thanked God before commanding Lazarus to come forth from the grave.
Bible verses about giving thanks to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG
Every time we grumble and refuse to be thankful, we allow the devil a foothold in our lives.
We open the door for him to attack every other aspect of our lives that are going well.
Philippians 4:6-7 MSG
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:6-7 MSG
I like this verse because it reassures us that God understands our pain.
Though God never promised us smooth sailing in this world.
But one thing is sure when we bring our petitions before God with faith
Not comparing ourselves to other people, God will come through for us in his time.
Psalm 50:14 GNT
Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God,
Psalm 50:14 GNT
and give the Almighty all that you promised.
My pastor always reminds us of the story of the writer of the song, It is Well with my soul, Horatio Spafford.
A lawyer and Presbyterian Church elder whose daughters died on an S.S. Ville du Havre a French iron steamship.
Despite all he went through, he still believed that all is well.
Some people might wonder if God was punishing him for any unconfessed sin.
Sometimes, bad things happen to good people that we don’t have the answers for.
Psalm 124:3 GNT
“If the Lord had not been on our side
Psalm 124:3 GNT
when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us alive
in their furious anger against us;
Despite all the formulas of success that we know, the truth remains that
if God should take his eyes off us we are finished.
We should not be too quick to think the reason why we enjoy certain benefits is that we know all the principles.
Thank God for principles, but in the end, we’re still living by the mercies of God.
Psalm 103:1-4 GNT
Praise the Lord, my soul!
All my being, praise his holy name!
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and do not forget how kind he is.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He keeps me from the grave
and blesses me with love and mercy.
Psalm 103:1-4 GNT
It is only through praise can we draw from the wells of salvation.
There are prayers that God had answered over 5 years ago
But our constant negative confessions have stopped the answers from manifesting.
We must never forget the scarifies Jesus made just to redeem us.
Luke 19:39-40 AMP
Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples [for shouting these Messianic praises].” 40 Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!”
Luke 19:39-40 AMP
Nobody can starve God of the praises that he deserves that is why he has trillion angels at his disposal to offer praises.
When we refuse to praise God the spirit of God inside of us becomes inactive.
That is the reason it often feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders.
God can raise worshippers from unlikely places that will praise him if we decide to keep silent.
Colossians 3:15 GNT
The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 GNT
One prayer that we should never cease praying is for the peace of God.
Without God’s peace, we would always have the spirit of heaviness
which is linked to depression and can shorten our life span.
The more liberty we have at praising God the longer we can live.
Psalm 118:24 ASV
This is the day which Jehovah hath made;
Psalm 118:24 ASV
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
I know this might sound like a cliche but every new day is a gift from God.
Instead of cursing the day before it even begins, declare blessings over it.
Even when you haven’t seen the manifestation of the blessings it is like planting a seed.
The more we water it with the word of God it will surely come to pass.
Lamentation 3:22-23 ESV
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
Lamentation 3:22-23
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness
I’m glad that despite my weaknesses I can still approach God the Father and he will answer.
Don’t let anyone make you think that God is mad at you and that is the reason you cannot be free from addiction.
If God never cared about us He wouldn’t allow Jesus His only son sacrifice his life for us. What manner of love is this.
Psalm 100:4 NIV
“Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise His name
Psalm 100:4 NIV
My prayer for us is that God continues to grant us an understanding of why we should show gratitude to God.
May we never give up in the face of trials or forget all that God has done for us.
