Good Morning,
How do we abound in thanksgiving? Is it by saying 'thank you' over and over again until we feel like we have abounded? I have of late been thinking on what it means to me to abound in thanksgiving. I want to make the countenance of our Father's face to smile when He thinks of me. Don't you?
The usual for our family's Thanksgiving dinner is a litany of what we are thankful for. This year I have been in deep introspection, and as I examine myself I realize that at times I am not as thankful as I should be. Sometimes we can become so ambitious for 'getting' more, that we neglect to be thankful for what we already have. I am not only talking about material things, for they are the lowest on God's totem pole of what we should be thankful for. Even though the world around us, tells us that 'things' are what we should be desirous of. I am thinking about the relationships that we have and those whose lives have affected ours and those whose lives we have affected for good. Thanksgiving is giving an offering of gratefulness; to throw out confessions of thanks; to give praise to. It also means to bless, to show appreciation and gratitude. I want to abound in showing appreciation and gratitude to My Father and all His people that He has ingenuously placed in my sphere. Abound simply means to be in excess, to be superfluous; to exceed, excel, and increase in our thanks, both in deeds and in words. "Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish or sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness to God" (IIThess.5:4) Voice your thankfulness to God, hmm, we must continue to put words to our thankfulness, as well as show Him how much we appreciate Him and those who He has put in our lives. Paul consistently gave thanks for the people of God, here is one of those occasion; "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." (Ephes. 1:15-16)
"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of god in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thess.5:18) So it does not matter what may be going on and who is doing it. God says it is His will for us to give thanks to Him, not for the things that may be happening around you, but in everything. That's a big difference. Because we may not be thankful for what is going on, but we can always be thankful to God for turning things around for our good. This sets us up for abounding thanks, because it is a continually 'showing and voicing' our thanks, irregardless. That means, like Paul, we never cease or stop to offer thanks to God. We show our appreciation and gratitude to God, by obeying what He tells us to do, that which is His will. Thankfulness is being conscious of the benefits received and being kindly disposed toward the benefactor. Well, everyday you must voice your thankfulness to God and show Him that you appreciate Him, by obeying His Word. You can also do the same for the family of God and your natural family. It doesn't matter how they behave, or, what they do, or don't do. Let your gratitude become infectious, it won't hurt. In fact we'll be amazed at the outcome, both from God and people. They'll both be inclined to do more for you. So let's practice (exercise oneself in instruction and improvement, for acquiring discipline and becoming proficient) being thankful, do it without ceasing and you will abound in it. Do it until thanksgiving become your custom.
"Abounding in thankfulness"
Love,
Pastor D.
P.S. I will talk to you next week. I will be abounding in voice and action in thanksgiving with my family the rest of this week. Remember, practice!
Daughters of Z 