A Thankful Heart
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Scripture: “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 3 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. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” Psalms 100:1-5
It is critical for us to have a thankful heart for the things that God has done for us. We are not to focus on the things we don’t have, but rather we should focus on and be thankful for what we do have. What are some things we can focus on that we have from God that will help us experience a thankful heart daily?
Remember God is our creator. We did not create ourselves. (Colossians 1:16-17 - For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.) He has given us all that need – most importantly our salvation – a personal relationship with Him.
Because of our salvation we have an invitation to come into His presence with singing and joy! Happiness is fickle/temporal, and it’s from happenings/circumstances. Joy on the other hand sticks around. It doesn’t get chased out by trouble. (Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.) (Nehemiah 8:10 - Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.) Real joy comes from walking obediently to the Holy Spirit.
A thankful heart will always worship God, praise Him, honor Him, and give Him all of the glory that He deserves! (Revelation 4:8-11 - The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.)
We are also to be thankful for the goodness of God! (Psalms 34:8 - Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!) (Psalms 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.) We should value His mercy that He has given us, and be thankful that we did not receive what we deserve. (Hebrews 4:16, Psalms 67:1, Psalms 51:1 and 2)
We should be glad for God’s truth to all generations. (Psalms 33:4 ) (John 8:31-32) Thank you God for providing a sure way to get to You through Your Son – the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father. He is the source of all truth and the reality of all that God has provided to all us who are born again. Thank You God for Jesus being the only way to You who is in Heaven. (John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.") For that I have a thankful heart!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: I thank You for mercy and grace that allows me to come into Your presence with a humble heart of thanksgiving and praise to worship You for who You are! With a grateful heart I say thank You Jesus! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
by Min. Robert Williams
Remember God is our creator. We did not create ourselves. (Colossians 1:16-17 - For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.) He has given us all that need – most importantly our salvation – a personal relationship with Him.
Because of our salvation we have an invitation to come into His presence with singing and joy! Happiness is fickle/temporal, and it’s from happenings/circumstances. Joy on the other hand sticks around. It doesn’t get chased out by trouble. (Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.) (Nehemiah 8:10 - Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.) Real joy comes from walking obediently to the Holy Spirit.
A thankful heart will always worship God, praise Him, honor Him, and give Him all of the glory that He deserves! (Revelation 4:8-11 - The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.)
We are also to be thankful for the goodness of God! (Psalms 34:8 - Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!) (Psalms 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.) We should value His mercy that He has given us, and be thankful that we did not receive what we deserve. (Hebrews 4:16, Psalms 67:1, Psalms 51:1 and 2)
We should be glad for God’s truth to all generations. (Psalms 33:4 ) (John 8:31-32) Thank you God for providing a sure way to get to You through Your Son – the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father. He is the source of all truth and the reality of all that God has provided to all us who are born again. Thank You God for Jesus being the only way to You who is in Heaven. (John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.") For that I have a thankful heart!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: I thank You for mercy and grace that allows me to come into Your presence with a humble heart of thanksgiving and praise to worship You for who You are! With a grateful heart I say thank You Jesus! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
by Min. Robert Williams
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2024
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3 Comments
Amen Pastor Williams! Thank you for this encouraging devotional!
Amen, oh to have a spirit of thanksgiving. Bless Your name oh Lord! When my heart seeks to complain, remind me to give You thanks for who You are and all you've done. Thank you for this devotional.
Amen sister. There is always an occasion to give genuine thanks. We ought to always give thanks to the Father in the name of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.