Genuine Thanksgiving
November 16, 2022
One of the greatest expressions of thanksgiving comes from King David and is recorded in Psalm 100 just six verses in the entire chapter and yet they truly reflect the character of genuine thanksgiving.
Psalm 100
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord all your lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God.
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good, and His truth endures all generations.”
If you were to take the time to read through this and search it out there are several characteristics, you could identify about the character of genuine thanksgiving.
1. Genuine thanksgiving has Praise directed to the Lord
2. Genuine thanksgiving has service to the Lord born out of gratitude
3. Genuine thanksgiving has an attitude of thanksgiving is reflective of singlemindedness in its faith and following of the Lord
4. Genuine thanksgiving draws us to the presence of God
5. Genuine thanksgiving recognizes the continual / eternality of God’s goodness
So often circumstance in life dictate the rise and fall of our attitude of thanksgiving. But if King David got this right, thankfulness has nothing to do with circumstance, nothing to do with who I am, but everything to do with who God is and what He has accomplished far beyond our earthly matters.
Think on this for a moment: All the terrible situations and conditions we can find ourselves experiencing in this earthly life can’t impact any of the five characteristics I mentioned earlier!
1. God is worthy of praise no matter our circumstance!
2. God has called and gives opportunity for us to serve no matter our circumstances.
3. God alone is the provider of our faith
4. God alone draws His children to Him
5. God alone is faithful in all things throughout eternity
This in and of itself warrants an attitude of thanksgiving.
I suspect that all who read this can much to be thankful for.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!