And Be Thankful

I Thank Thee

O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.

I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
Me, trembling, to Thy breast.

I bless Thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy;
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy.

--Jane Crewdson (1860)

God’s desire for a thankful people.

Scripture describes the verbal thankfulness of Jesus, and His recognition of gratitude in others.

A few examples of Jesus’ thankfulness:

before feeding the multitude,

before breaking bread and sharing the cup.

He gave thanks to God for hearing Him, just before bringing Lazarus from the tomb.

Scripture reveals thankful attitude in people.

One of ten healed lepers returned to thank Jesus, a Samaritan.  Jesus acknowledged the grateful heart of a foreigner.  Where was the thankful spirit of the other nine?

Peter’s mother-in-law began to wait on guests and family, when she rose healed at Jesus’ touch.

Daniel knelt in thanksgiving, even when the law of the land forbade it.

Scripture instructs that all we do be done in His name, with thanksgiving to God the Father.  Col. 3:17

God’s will for us to give thanks in all circumstances 1 Thess. 5:18

We should be grateful for everything in the name of Jesus.  Eph. 5:20

Our prayers and petitions are to be wrapped in thanksgiving to God.Phil 4:6

Generosity He prompts within each of us will result in thanksgiving to Him. 1 Cor. 9:11

When gratitude fills our hearts and flows from our lips, will there be room left for obscenity, foolish talk or course joking?  Eph. 5:4

God instructed His people, Israel, to set up stone pillars, to share stories of His faithfulness with following generations, to observe feasts and festivals.  Today, we celebrate a holy feast, remembering what Jesus endured for our sins, looking to the day of His return.

He knew them well, He knows us well.  Lest we forget the One to Whom we owe eternal gratitude for all blessings.  He is the Giver of life, physical and spiritual.  May our eyes look to Him, our hearts trust His love and our lips sing His praise as a thankful people, not just in November, but each hour of every day. May we remember and celebrate the grace and goodness of our God, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!  2 Corinthians 9:15

How will you and I demonstrate gratitude to our LORD, today?

Holy God and Merciful Father.  Thank You for the many examples of gratitude given throughout Your Word.  Thank You, for the forgiveness You grant, when we fail to thank You.

Thank You, Beautiful Creator, of all we see and enjoy, for life and breath and hope.  Call us closer to Your heart that we may grow in thankfulness for all You have done and promise to do.  In the holy name of Jesus.

Mischelle Oliver, 
Stephenville, Texas