The Spirit Of Thanksgiving

by Pastor Mark
July 02, 2020

A time to give thanks

As we begin the second half of 2020, it is vital that we seek to cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving which would bring a greater sense of joy and uplift to the heart.

The problem is that we tend to take many things for granted. We end up complaining and being disgruntled with the difficulties of life. Let us not drag our feet as we move ahead into the next six months even though there may be many challenges to face. There are good examples that we should emulate in learning how to give thanks all over again.

Great examples of having a spirit of thanksgiving

1. An excellent spirit of thanksgiving

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;” (Ps 92:1)

The Psalmist wrote that the giving of thanks is a good thing to do. Thanksgiving is often associated with the singing of praise to the Lord’s name. When we are thankful, we will sing to the Lord with joy from the heart.

What was the Psalmist thankful for? He was thankful for the lovingkindness of God each morning. (Ps 92:2) What a wonderful way to start the day! In the night, the Psalmist was thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness, in keeping him throughout the day. (Ps 92:2) He learnt to be thankful every day, both morning and night, in spite of having to face wicked enemies. (Ps 92:7,9,11) Let us follow the Psalmist to cultivate an excellent spirit of thanksgiving.

2. A strong spirit of thanksgiving

The Greek word “eucharisteo” means “I thank”. It was out of the grace of God that the Apostle Paul gave thanks to God. It was characteristic of Paul in his epistles to the different churches of Philippi, Colosse and more. (Phil 1:3, Col 1:3) He consistently gave thanks for the brethren as he remembered them and the blessings that God had showered upon them.

What was truly significant about Paul’s spirit of thanksgiving was that he could give thanks to God even while he was in prison. (Phil 1:7) Even though he was living in the harsh and difficult conditions of jail, his strong spirit of thanksgiving was never broken. Let us learn from the amazing example of Paul in cultivating a strong sense of thanksgiving.

Thankful for God’s blessings

The challenge is for us to give thanks to God and His blessings. They should in no way be taken for granted. We are truly undeserving of the Lord’s blessings, but God is fully deserving of our thanksgiving. What should we be thankful for?

  1. Thank God for His grace and mercy in keeping us through this COVID-19 crisis.
  2. Thank God for Bethany and its continuing online ministry of the Word of God.
  3. Thank God that we are finally resuming Morning Worship Service this Sunday even though we need to start slowly.
  4. Thank God for blessing Bethany these last 47 years.

We have every reason to give thanks to God even in these difficult times. Let us be challenged to cultivate a strong spirit of thanksgiving as we enter the second half of 2020.

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