Scripture: Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
The book of Psalms is the largest book right in the middle of the Bible with 150 verses mostly on praising and thanking God. This shows the importance of praise and thanksgiving. Praising and thanking God is a powerful weapon that Christians have and we must use it in all circumstances, whether good or bad.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 100:4
To praise God is to declare who God is; his holiness, might, goodness, kindness, mercy and faithfulness. Thanksgiving on the other hand is acknowledging what God has done. Healing you, providing for your needs, and protecting you. Jesus expects us to return to him with thanksgiving after we have our requests or prayers answered.
Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19
This man who returned to thank Jesus was made whole which signifies that though he received healing for his leprosy, he was not whole yet. He could have had other conditions or struggles in life but he received total deliverance when Jesus said ‘Your faith has made you whole’. Ingratitude can be a hinderance to our prayers.
It is always easier to praise and thank God in the good times but we should trust God and continue to have an attitude of praising and thanking God in bad times too. Our circumstances does not change who God is, God on the mountain is still God in the valley. If he cares so much about the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, be confident in all circumstances that God is working all things for your good. It might not look like it but praise him and see what the power of praise will do.
Remember to thank God today for all the things he has done for you. Your life, health, education, career, family, and his presence with you all the time. Count your blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Everyone has something to praise and thank God for. Find yours today.
Prayer
Thank you God for all your blessings in my life. Forgive me for any act of ungratefulness that I have shown to you. I just want to say thank you and not ask for anything today. Thank you in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
