Favour
“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
Psalm 50:23 NLT
If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
Psalm 50:23 NLT
If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
We are to give thanks in and through ALL things. (Phil 4:6) This verse shows that sometimes it may feel like or it may be a sacrifice – uncomfortable, not easy, something that I will need God’s help and strength and grace to do – yet it honours God and brings HIM glory. That’s what I want to do so whether I ‘feel’ like it or not I will ‘choose’ to be thankful always.
You honed in on the word sacrifice. It is interesting to think of thanksgiving as a sacrifice but yes indeed that’s what it is especially when circumstances dictate complaints.
Last week I subscribed to one of Carey Nieuwhof’s leadership videos where he talks about certain helpful habits over a 5 day period. One of the habits this foremost leadership coach has formed is thanksgiving journaling. He states that doing that consistently has helped him steer away from complaining. Without being intentional about giving thanks we will fail as our hearts yield more to the natural tendency to complain. This scripture qualifies the act of giving thanks as a sacrifice and there is a reward attached to it – the revelation of God’s salvation. I think as followers of Jesus it means we get promoted in our depth and understanding of salvation. Father in Heaven work in me a thanksgiving heart.
Sometimes depending on what you are going through, giving thanks would truly be a sacrifice. It’s easy to respond to sorrow “naturally”. We immediately tread close to the enemy lines of negativity. We justify our “feelings” because we begin to believe it’s our truth. This is what we need to chose to sacrifice so that we can as Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what He cannot lose.” Your LIFE is precious ! God knows that when our world is crashing in when We Give Thanks, we powerfully push life back into its proper perspective – a Heavenly perspective so that We can live life to its fullest on earth.
The true and genuine idea is intimacy with God and the fruit is dependence and agreement with God and this act produces the worship of God. This attitude requires that it be something unique only through our “praise.” This action is not merely an external act, it is not a mere bending of the knee: it is one that comes from the heart and shows that there is a spirit of true gratitude, adoration, and gratitude. love.