GRATITUDE – A LESSON TO LEARN

David, the psalmist and the king, has a unique way to bring perspective of thankfulness and gratitude, to life and living. David begins Psalm 9, with the praise of God Almighty, and goes on to expound the theme of “Prayer and Thanksgiving for the LORD’s Righteous Judgments”
– “​1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” – Psalm 9:1-2

Paul, writing in Ephesians 5:20a has similar thoughts about “Prayer and Thanksgiving” to the LORD, praising and thanking the LORD God Almighty, for all His righteous works.
– “20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” – Ephesians 5:20a

Let us see, what can we learn from the LORD, through the words of Paul in Ephesians 5:20a. It has very significant lessons for us as Christians, about being thankful and being grateful. I can see three lessons that we can learn from it.

–GIVING THANKS ALWAYS – Thanking God, as envisioned in the Word of God, is a continuous process. It is an unceasing, and a never ending process, for a believer. It is so, because of all what we have received from the hand of our God. Anyone who seeks reasons to do so, by asking, “What are the reasons to praise God?’ is someone does not know, who God truly is, and that, such a person has not experienced the amazing love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of God of the Bible.

– FOR ALL THINGS – We receive many things from God, whether we realise it or not. The quicker we realise this, the better it is for our overall health. We are to give thanks always, as a continuous process, for all things we receive…even adversity and tragedy – Remember the righteous Job, and the apostle Paul? 

– TO GOD THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – We are to give thanks continually, for all things received from God, our LORD and our Father. Such receiving from God, is made possible, by the LORD Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice. By His sacrifice, Jesus had torn the veil that separates us from the Holy God, because of our sins. – Matthew 27:50-53. HalleluYah!!! Now we can freely approach the LORD, to seek His face, seek forgiveness, and to thank Him with a grateful heart, for all His goodness, grace and mercy – all because of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

May we always be filled with gratitude, and ever eager to praise and thank God Almighty, for all that we have received from His hand. Even if we are going through a season of sifting and storms, let us thank God, for He is good, and His love endures forever.
– “34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” – 1 Chronicles 16:34
God will take care of everything. Let us ever be thankful and grateful to the LORD.