Thankfulness

The practice of godliness – chapter 8 – a continuation of notes

Thanksgiving is an acknowledgement that all we have and all we are is from God.

It was through a dis-acknowledgement of God in Romans 1 that is stated as the cause for the moral degeneration of the human race. Indeed we see Jesus show disdain from ingratitude in the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19. This shows us the importance that our Lord placed on giving thanks where it was due, to Him. Ingratitude we see in Romans 8, leads to a decaying of the mind, it leads to foolishness. Estrangement from God and God centeredness leads to downfall.

‘Our situation is never so desperate that it is not fitting to give thanks to God’ (104)

We see that Daniel when he knew of the decree that he was not allowed to pray, still went up to his room and gave thanks!

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’

(Philippians 4:6 ESV)

Thanksgiving also causes us to deflect credit from ourselves, it helps us to grow in humility by constantly recognising that every good thing we have and do is from the providential hand of our great God.

Some practical steps:

Begin and end the day with thanksgiving

‘It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,’

(Psalm 92:1-2 ESV)

Set aside the answered prayer requests and write them down, remembering always to thank God for what he has done and provided.

Often we write lists of prayers but do we then remember to thank God for them when they have done?

It is an offence to God, as we see in the case with the ten lepers to receive from him without thanking him.

P