Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who make merry; I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, [a]giving thanks to His name.
Thanksgiving is acknowledging God for who He is and what He has done for you; it is giving God thanks for who He is to you, reflecting His worth and glory before your eyes, thanking Him for His goodness that you have enjoyed and do enjoy. Our opening Scripture shows us what should proceed out of the mouth of a believer – Thanksgiving. In Christ, as a child of God, you are not permitted to murmur in any way or form; for we are the circumcision, that worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. You must give voice to the gratitude in your heart by listing out God’s goodness to you, mentioning them one by one as you give thanks specifically for each of them. Thanksgiving is never generalized. You must be specific about it. Just as you diligently write out your prayer points, you should also write out your thanksgiving points. Sometimes when you don’t put pen to paper, you might lose track of the goodness of God. Little wonder the Psalmist in Psalms 103:2, speaking to his soul said: “…and forget not ALL His benefits.” You are meant to remember all of God’s goodness to you. You are meant to lay to heart everything the Lord has done for you! Count your blessings, name them one by one, and specifically give God thanks for each of them.
What makes thanksgiving worthwhile is the heart from which it is coming. It must come from a heart of gladness. God is looking for much more than the offering that is presented in thanksgiving. He is looking for a heart of gratitude and joy. Our opening Scripture says “…out of them (believers) shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry…” God wants you to make merry in His presence and give Him thanks unreservedly. God loves a cheerful giver, not just a giver; He looks out for cheerfulness in giving, not just giving (2 Corinthians 9:7). Your thanksgiving must stem out of a heart that is rich in the knowledge of God and an immeasurable rejoicing in Him as to who He is to you. God is your life; He is your sufficiency; He is your shield and exceeding great reward. Whatever you present to God and joy is not behind it, it means nothing to Him. Be generous and joyful in your thanksgiving to God.
MY SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION):
Heavenly Father, I thank You for who You are to me. I acknowledge Your mighty works in my life and with joy in my heart, I offer with cheerfulness my thanksgiving to You today in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Meditation: Psalms 50:14; 2 Corinthians 9:7.