The Thankful Heart is a Grateful Heart

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Ephesians 5:20

The instruction to “give thanks” appears 35 times in Scripture. To “give” is to externalize. Think about that. What is giving of thanks when and if it’s not spoken out of our mouths to the LORD? Give it.

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15

“IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE TOO THANKFUL TO GOD, BUT IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO TRY IT.” A.W. TOZER

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, do it in me, do Your deeper work. Break me Jesus, please. I love You my LORD. Take away the hardened places in my heart and replace them with “an heart of flesh” that is humble, convicted, pliable, innocent, and teachable. In Jesus’ name, I ask You dear Father. I love You Jesus.

“Yes! We need to let God break us to see there is nothing good in us. That leads to humility and the fear of God!” Karen

“We pray earnestly, O God, that we may not be found among those with hardened hearts, no longer able to hear Thy voice.” AW Tozer

It’s best that WE individually pray God’s Word into our own lives.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

PRAYER: Father, in the name of Jesus, please forgive my sins of covetousness and discontentment, which are an indictment upon You as my Father, a way of saying You haven’t provided and opened the doors yet that I selfishly desired to be opened. Please forgive this sin on my part and bless this heart to be still and content in Thee O LORD. Thank YOU for all You’ve so wonderfully, graciously provided and most of all, the unspeakable, unfathomable gift of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. I love You and have everything in You LORD Jesus! In Jesus’ name, amen.

“ALL things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14 

As believers we have been given the mandate and privilege of giving thanks daily for the blessing of Jesus Christ who is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for the remission of our sins. (Romans 3:25). We can also be thankful for the innumerable blessings we now have and those awaiting us in eternity. Every blessing, the myriad of which cannot be counted, comes from the LORD our God.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

On the earth, there’s no such thing as a content, happy person who doesn’t overtly give praise and THANKSGIVING to the LORD. Developing a heart of gratefulness to the LORD is essential to being happy – in God’s definition.

We are to give thanks always for all things.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks” appear 80 times in God’s Word!

Thanks giving leads to thanks living – Living in grateful appreciation for all that the LORD has done for us!

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday instituted in America to pause and give thanks for all we have, yet for the believer, thanksgiving is to be a perpetual state of the heart, confession of the mouth, and way of life. Cultivating a thankful heart is essential to contentment and peace. Thanksgiving also displaces covetousness.

”Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Giving thanks is also an indispensable element of prayer. Peace is associated with it (Phil. 4:6-7). Peace and contentment are the fruits of the heart that is full of continual thanksgiving. Many times in Scripture, prayer and giving thanks are coupled together.

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

In our times of prayer, and all day long, we should learn to cultivate a heart that is thankful for all of the things we do have – and tell God and others with our mouths, to testify of His goodness.

Have you found that when you are busy verbalizing to God and others, your thanksgiving for all He has blessed you with, murmuring, complaining, discontent and covetousness find no home in your heart? Thanksgiving displaces all of these enemies to our walk with Christ.

Are not His abundant blessings reason to burst forth with exuberant praise and thanksgiving? Remember that the LORD is worthy of your praise and thanks and that a thankful life is one of peace and contentment.

The Lack of Gratefulness is the Sign of Apostasy

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21 

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” 2 Timothy 3:2

—– “Where there is true prayer, there thanksgiving and gratitude stand by, ready to respond to the answer when it comes. As prayer brings the answer, so the answer brings forth gratitude and praise. As prayer sets God to work, so answered prayer sets thanksgiving to work. Thanksgiving follows answered prayer just as day succeeds night. True prayer and gratitude lead to full consecration, and consecration leads to more praying and better praying. A consecrated life is a life of both prayer and thanksgiving.” E.M. Bounds, E.M. Bounds on Prayer, p. 308

Concerning the unthinkable idea of being out of the Word of God, sister Cheri Schleicher Cearley writes: “I would be grieved in my spirit so much … I would be in TRAVAIL…WILL NOT SETTLE for ANYTHING LESS THAN SOLD OUT…PASSIONATE 150% in the WORD… STANDING on the WORD… SPEAKING the WORD…LIVING the WORD… HEARING the WORD…STUDYING the WORD.”

PRAYER: LORD Jesus, thank You for my every breath and the privilege to be Your creation and ambassador. Holy Father, in Jesus’ name, please make me to be abundantly fruitful in Your kingdom this day. I love You my LORD Jesus. Amen.

He is Worthy to be Thanked! | Christ Lives to Provide What He Died to Purchase!

LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: This message was sent out to each person who is on the Moments For My Master e-mail devotional list. In supplementation to your personal daily study of God’s Word, we would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with the Word (Jn. 5:39; 1 Tim. 4:6, 16; Heb. 5:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:2). Sign up here.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Modern Church | Peace with God

He is Worthy to be Thanked!

The Powerful Furtherance of the Gospel [podcast]

The King is Coming [podcast]

CONTENTMENT VS. COVETOUSNESS