“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
The twin face of Giving is Gratitude. The season of Giving is also the season of Gratitude––another opportunity to be grateful to God our Father. Being thankful makes for a joyful heart, particularly when it is motivated by a genuine appreciation for the gift and the giver.
What is the attitude of your gratitude? Is it basically the social convention of good manners to say, thank you when receiving a service or a kindness or favor from another? All of that is good and right to do. Is it the deeper expression of appreciation for the effort or sacrifice that went into making the gift possible? Or is it the emotionally disarming, heart engaging, response of inexpressible appreciation for something so overwhelming that you can hardly contain your joy!
I hope at one time or another you experience all of these. And yet there is a greater attitude of gratitude that is not momentary but continual and empowering to the soul, the heart the mind and the body. Gratitude keeps the heart merry and a merry heart does good like a medicine.
“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”Proverbs 15:13
“All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15
“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22
An attitude of gratitude is born of finding in the things of this life a reason to give thanks to the Lord. The Word calls us to give thanks!
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Chronicles 16:34
“Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.”Psalms 30:4
“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High” Psalms 92:1
“Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” Psalms 97:12
“Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” Psalms 97:12
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalms 107:1
” … in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1Thessalonians 5:18
“Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.” Psalms 50:14
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalms 69:30
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” Psalms 95:2
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” Psalms 100:4
“Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.” Psalms 107:22
“Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God, Psalms 147:7
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” Philippians 4:6
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” Colossians 4:2
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