“The thing that opens the deepest well of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven sin.”
What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving or gratitude is an attitude which we as believers adopt to show that we value the kindness of God in saving us. While it is a feeling, it extends beyond that. As a feeling, it is a spontaneous expression which is dependent on our moods or fortuitous circumstances. Our gratitude towards God is different, in that it is an act of worship. The term ‘Eucharist’ (the bread of communion) stems from the Greek word “eucharisto” which means “to give thanks”. The stem of this word is “charis”, which means “grace”. This stem is also found in the word for joy, “chara”. This means that we are grateful to God in spite of our circumstances or whether we indeed feel grateful in the moment, because it is rooted in the eternal truth of God’s saving work in Jesus Christ. Thus, as an act of worship, our gratitude is sacrificial – we give it even when we do not feel it because God in his infinite kindness deserves it. Moreover, it is a way of expressing our joy in the truth of God’s salvific work on the cross and the infinite kindness displayed to us for the forgiveness of our sins.
Doesn’t this seem inauthentic? It would be inauthentic if it were rooted in our circumstances – that would be denial. If, however, we choose to thank God for his amazing love, his steadfast kindness and his saving grace afforded to us each day in Jesus Christ, then it is by no means inauthentic. It is in fact, choosing to root ourselves in a truth which transcends our circumstances and gives us a taste of eternity – where our gratitude will pour over into unceasing, heartfelt worship as we behold Him who has given us eternal life.
Why should we adopt a posture of gratitude?
We should adopt a posture of gratitude because we have been instructed to do so. Paul in fact instructs the church in Coloassae to abound in thanksgiving.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
It’s important to note that we do not extend gratitude in this manner because “it is our part to play” – there is nothing we can do to merit God’s saving grace, nor do to incur His favour. Gratitude helps to align us with God’s truth in the midst of hardships and helps our hearts stay focused on His love. It allows us to behold Him for whom He truly is – the lover of our souls who has ransomed us. So, as we learn all the more to thank Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He is still to do, so too do we grow in peace, joy, freedom and intimacy with Him. It allows us to behold him clearer as the haze of our turbulent circumstances seeks to obscure Him and His love for us.
“Abounding. Overflowing. Grace not only received and deposited, but daily withdrawn and multiplied.
That’s what Christian gratitude will do.”
How do we practice thanksgiving?
We practice thanksgiving by remembering and reflecting. As we read our Bibles, take time to reflect on God’s mercy, His kindness and begin to thank him for his mercy. At the start of your day, thank Him for forgiving you your sins because of Jesus’s finished work on the cross, which allows us to call Him “Our Father”. Thank Him for adopting you into His spiritual family. Thank Him for the kindness he shows us in Christ Jesus. This is a gratitude rooted in grace.
It doesn’t stop there. We can also offer spontaneous gratitude or thanksgiving to God based on what happens throughout our day. Through thanksgiving, we acknowledge His provision – whether that be the roof over our heads, our families, the food on our table or even the talents and abilities He gave us in order to make a living. There are so many thing for which to be thankful, that it can be easy to forget.
As you journal your feelings and thoughts over the next few days, start a list of things for which you are thankful. Add to this list as things come to mind. At the end of the day, go over this list and you’ll see that more often than not, we can simply run out of ways to say thank you to an infinitely kind God.