While the holiday may be behind us, His holy way is ever before us. In part one, we looked at just three of the benefits of gratitude, but oh, there are more! Thanksgiving guards, sustains, helps us, and bolsters our faith and the faith of others. Make it a holy habit that forges the way into His holy presence.
If you missed the first post, check it out here or read on to discover the power of thanksgiving with five more benefits.
4. Thanksgiving guards us from worthless thinking.
“For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:21
Giving thanks to God is one way we guard our minds from thinking worthless thoughts. Our headspace is valuable. There is so much vying for our attention, so much noise cluttering our minds, some of it good, and some of it, not so much. Gratitude has the power to still the swirling motion of thoughts in our minds. By it we train ourselves to value as God values.
Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Yes, Lord! Transform our thinking. Renew our minds by Your word. Help us to value as you value, discerning what is good, pleasing, and perfect to You, always giving thanks to You, for this is your will for us!
5. Thanksgiving sustains us through our sorrows and reminds us that joy is our future.
Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints,
Psalm 30:4-5, 11-12
and give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
and His favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning…
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!
Gratitude has the power to sustain us by lifting our eyes off of our circumstances and onto Christ. It helps me remember that the often long road of pain is not the end. Weeping tarries, but it does not win. We may wear garments of grief for a time, but it is not the end of our story. In fact, one day He will, with finality, strip off our grief garments and clothe us with gladness. And those garments will be forever. The hurt of the here and now does not define our future and forever.
What will I wear for eternity? Dressed in His garments of gladness, I will rejoice in Him forever. Until then, thanksgiving sustains me and reminds me that joy is my future.
6. Thanksgiving helps others know God.
“And on that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.” Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth.”
Isaiah 12:4-5
The Lord has and continues to do glorious things. Do you believe that? Share it. This is our testimony. When sharing our faith, we don’t need all the answers. We simply share how God is working in our lives.
John 9 tells the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Missing the miracle, the religious leaders questioned the man repeatedly, condemning Christ for healing on the Sabbath. The man stood up under scrutiny and replied: “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25).
The man did not have all the answers; he had his testimony, his story of what Christ had done for him. When we tell of what He has done for us, it helps others to know Who He is. Praise Him, for He has done glorious things for you!
7. Thanksgiving soothes the hurts of others.
“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”
Psalm 34:1-3
Not only does thanksgiving help others to know God, it lifts the hearts of the hurting.
Psalm 34:3 says “Magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together.” Together: our gratitude and worship of God is meant to be shared.
We need thanksgiving-comrades, those who will soldier alongside of us, pointing to Christ. Not only that, when we worship the God of mercy and grace, others hear and rejoice as well.
Look again at verse 2 of this psalm. The NIV says is like this: “I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.” When we glory in the Lord, our souls shine and brighten the heart of the hurting.
God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). We bolster the hope of others when we magnify the Lord through thanksgiving.
8. Thanksgiving is God’s will for us.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Finally, God made us to be about thanksgiving. Don’t gloss over that significance. This is His will for us in Christ. How do we cultivate a heart of gratitude when we consider what we’re up against in this life? Through the living Christ in us, interceding for us, lavishing His moment by moment grace upon us.
Rejoice always: lean into grace, experience it and be conscious of it.
Pray unceasingly: exchange your desires and wishes for God’s.
In everything give thanks…thanks for what? Grace! He gives us moment by moment grace for all circumstances.
This is His design. Lean in, delighting in His ever-present and available grace, talk with Him, literally exchange your ideas for His, give thanks for His grace that enables you to walk through what you are walking through.
This is how we live! Thanksgiving helps us live right! We wage the war against the enemy and keep watch over our wander-prone hearts through the power of thanksgiving. Come, glorify the Lord with me! Let us exalt His name together!
Guard our hearts and minds, Jesus, as we look to You. Sustain us with the joy that is coming. Dress us in Your gladness-garments as we recount Your wondrous ways. Make Your glory and name known and strengthen the hearts of the hurting, Holy Comforter. Oh, we praise You, Lord! We give You thanks, for You are good! Your faithful love endures forever! Who can tell of all Your mighty deeds? We can never praise You, enough! (Psalm 106:1-2).
