Thanksgiving is around the corner. A season to give God gratitude for everything He’s done for us and for who He is. I hope this post serves as a reminder and food for thought as you enjoy this season.
My definition of Thanksgiving is “The jubilant, exhilarating, outpouring of joy from the depth of our hearts, expressed through the instrument of our mouths, singing, talking about and declaring the uniqueness of someone or a Deity who has done extraordinary things for us, such that we cannot hold back but come to show that appreciation to the person or Deity”. We are familiar with the adage or proverb which says “The child that comes back to thank the parents is the one who will receive more.”
Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord , saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. – 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 NKJV
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. – Psalm 100:2-4 NKJV
In the scripture above, Psalm 100:2-4: “…We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving…” This tells us who we are, His people! It is also clear from God’s perspective that we, as His people, should approach Him, enter His gates with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving involves you thinking back and saying “I received this or that because of you, Thank you!”.
When a Nation then sets aside a day to offer Thanksgiving, that Nation is making a public proclamation to the One they know has done great and mighty things for them. It is always a good thing for the individual to offer Thanksgiving, but much more encouraging to see Nations setting aside a day to offer Thanksgiving.
Let your heart be filled always with Thanksgiving. Don’t look at what you don’t yet have, look at what you already have and begin to give thanks!
Dare to Discover,
Paul Ugobor
Who Am I? 