Why Everyone Should Thank God

We often associate giving with monetary contributions and material possessions, but it’s important to note that we can also offer our heartfelt thanks for what others have done for us and for who they are in our lives. This intangible and abstract expression of giving is called thanksgiving. Many of us, as believers, express our gratitude to God when we feel blessed or well. The world then tends to remember to thank God, their creator and sustainer, only on special days or holidays. As believers, we should understand that thanksgiving should be more than just a response to blessings; it should be an essential part of our lives, practiced regularly in every situation.

One of the gifts we can give every day, regardless of the situation, is often overlooked. It may seem minor and is usually offered only when good and great things happen to us. However, this is what God expects us to give Him first, as it is His right: practicing gratitude and always maintaining an attitude of thankfulness towards Him. When we thank God, we acknowledge that who we are and what we have are all due to His grace and goodness.

The theme of thanksgiving in Scripture is a vital aspect of our spiritual lives that we must embrace daily, not just occasionally or during holidays and special services. When we examine the theme of thanksgiving in Scripture, particularly in the Book of Psalms, we can define it as our way of expressing acknowledgement and appreciation, especially towards God. It represents humanity casting glory back to God and attributing credit to Him as the source of all we are, do and have.

Who should we thank? It’s important to remember that only the living can give thanks to the Lord; the dead cannot. While we are alive, by God’s grace and mercy, we should always express our gratitude to Him. Every breath we take and every step we make are gifts from God, and therefore, we should continually show our appreciation just for the gift of life itself.

Psalms 6:5 (NKJV) 5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave, who will give You thanks?

The Psalmists highlight that the children of Israel, as God’s people, should show gratitude when they gather together. When they assemble and go up to the temple, they are encouraged to give thanks to the Lord’s name (see Psalm 122:4). Additionally, the Psalmist notes that God’s saints and the righteous offer thanks to His holy name (see Psalms 30:4; 97:12; 140:13). Furthermore, the Psalmist urges all people to thank the Lord, reflecting on His goodness and the amazing works He does in their lives (see Psalm 107:8). Essentially, everyone should express their gratitude to God, regardless of who they are or where they come from, because God, the Creator and Sustainer, upholds and provides for them, whether they ask Him or not.

To whom should we give our thanks? According to the Book of Psalms, thanksgiving should be directed to God, the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth. We should offer our highest thanks to God alone.

Psalms 136:26 (NKJV) 26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

We need to recognize the importance and impact of thanking God. Thanksgiving magnifies God in our lives by elevating God to the supreme, prominent, and irreplaceable position (see Psalms 69:30). Did you know that giving thanks invites us into God’s presence? When we approach Him, we should do so with an attitude of gratitude and praise (see Psalms 95:2; 140:13). Did you know, as the Psalmist states in Psalms 92:1, that it is a good thing to give thanks to God because it brings glory to Him and affirms God’s tremendous grace, unlimited goodness, caring sovereignty, faithful reliability, and abundant providence in our lives.

Here are several ways we can practice thanksgiving in our daily lives: stand before God with gratitude, sing songs of thanksgiving, speak our thanks aloud, show appreciation publicly, offer thanks as a daily sacrifice, and serve God with a spirit of gratitude.

1. Stand in Thanksgiving: We should approach God with a heart full of gratitude (see Psalms 95:2; Psalms 100:4). Standing in God’s presence with thankfulness provides access to Him, because we approach Him from the attitude of recognition and appreciation.
2. Sing in Thanksgiving: We sing and shout praises to God with songs of thanksgiving (see Psalms 147:7). We can create songs that express our deep gratitude for all that He has done in our lives.
3. Speak in Thanksgiving: We should develop the habit of verbally expressing thanks to God throughout our day — when we wake up in the morning, during the day, and as we go to bed (see Psalms 26:7).
4. Show Gratitude Through Thanksgiving: We are encouraged to express our gratitude to God within our church community, as well as with family and friends who are believers (see Psalms 35:18). Additionally, we should demonstrate thankfulness to those who may not know God, to glorify Him and make His presence known to them (see Psalms 18:49).
5. Sacrifices in Thanksgiving: We should offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, which goes beyond offering lambs and bulls (see Psalms 107:22; 116:17). Thanksgiving is a powerful gift that costs us nothing but can benefit us a lot in return when we offer it. It is a valuable currency we can freely give to God
6. Serve with Thanksgiving: We should express our gratitude for the opportunity to worship and serve God as His people. We must appreciate the privilege and responsibility given to us to lead others in worship and serve in ministry (see Psalms 100:4).

We want to clarify two key aspects of true thanksgiving: we should thank God not only for His deeds but also for His very being. The first main reason to give thanks to God is for who He is, reflecting His personhood and character traits. The second main reason to express gratitude is for what He does, including His performance, power, provision, and providence in our lives.

Thanking God for who He is involves the following:

• We thank Him for His holy name and for remembering it (see Psalms 106:47; 30:4; 97:12).
• We thank Him because He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords (see Psalms 136:1–3).
• We thank Him for being good and merciful (see Psalms 106:1; 118:1; 136:1–3).
• We thank Him for His being righteous (see Psalms 119:62).

Once we focus on thanking God for who He is, we can then express gratitude for what He does in our lives:

• We thank Him for all His wondrous works (see Psalms 26:7; 75:1).
• We thank Him for His righteous judgments (see Psalms 119:62).
• We thank Him for His ongoing mercy toward us (see Psalms 136:26).

In summary, as believers, we should cultivate a character of thankfulness, first to God and then to others. We are called to be thankful in our attributes, attitudes, approaches, and actions. Our thanksgiving to God does not end here on earth or with death; instead, we will continue to give thanks to Him forever (see Psalms 30:12; 79:13). As we raise our voices and songs of thanksgiving on earth, we will continue this practice in heaven throughout eternity. While we thank God in heaven, standing before the Lamb on the throne and the Almighty on the Throne, we are reminded of the most outstanding and marvellous work that God the Father and God the Son have accomplished for humanity and that is salvation from sin, death, and hell, and for an eternal place in heaven and abiding in the presence of our Creator & Heavenly Father forever and ever.

“Thanksgiving is an attitude and an act of acknowledging who God is and what He has done, is doing, and will do. It grants you access to stand in God’s presence and gives authority for God’s power to manifest in your life.” — Brahim M. Kallon.

Contributor: Brahim M. Kallon