Definition:
Thanksgiving:
1. The act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.
2. An expression of thanks, especially to God.
3. A public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.
4. A day set apart for giving thanks to God.
Heart:
1. Anatomically, it’s a hollow, pump like organ in the chest that circulate blood throughout the body.
2. The center of the total personality, especially with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion.
3. The heart has the capacity for sympathy; feeling; affection.
What kind of a heart do you have? David said in Psalm 51:10 that the Almighty God should Create in him a clean heart; and renew a right spirit within him.
Types of Heart:
1. A Stony heart: Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh".
2. A Rebellious heart (disobedient, resisting): 1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being King".
3. A Contentious heart: A heart that is quarrelsome, argumentative and full of strife: Isaiah 58:4 "Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven".
4. A Heart of Praise: Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience".
Case Study 1: Noah
Genesis 8:20-22: 20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
- Noah's sacrifice to God after the flood was a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving: He appreciated God for His grace, favour, mercy and safe voyage during the flood.
- Noah’s gesture touched the Heart of God and propelled God to proclaiming blessings upon mankind and to promise not to destroy everything that lives, as He has done during the time of Noah.
NB: This is what a Thankful, Grateful, Appreciative heart will do to God.
Case Study 2: David
David never stopped serving and worshiping God. He was a man of Faith, Trust, Love, Humility, Integrity, Loyal, Forgive and Worship God
- Do we have faith?
- Do we trust the Lord in all circumstances?
- Do we have sacrificial love for others, even our enemies?
- Are we humble? Do we operate with integrity?
- Do we seek forgiveness from God for our sins?
- Do we worship the Lord no matter what our circumstances?
We may not face the same kind of giant that David did, or be called by God to rule a nation, but we can choose each day to seek God's heart through our gratitude and praise. Always give thanks with a grateful heart.
Benefits of Thanksgiving:
1. Open Door to Blessings: 1 King 3:5, 1 King3:12-13: "5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee". "12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days".
2. God will testify concerning you: You will become a man and a woman after God’s Heart: Acts 13:22 "After removing him, God raised up David their king. He testified about him: 'I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who will accomplish everything I want him to do".
3. Praise and thanksgiving brings the Consciousness of the presence of God: Your acts of thanksgiving will touch the heart of God: Genesis 8:20-22: "20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease".
Conclusion: It’s a good thing to give thanks to God with a grateful heart all the time. We are enjoined to let our life and lifestyle sing of God’s praises at all times. Be a grateful child.
