Celebrating Life’s Blessings with Gratitude! Part Three

But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!” Jonah 2:9

Thankfulness is a powerful spiritual tool that opens the door to mercy, sets God’s goodness free to be good to us, and prepares us to receive blessings. This was demonstrated by Jonah in the Bible in Jonah 2, who called out for help from inside the belly of a giant fish. Desperate and broken-hearted, he cried out, “I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed…” (Jonah 2:9). His thankfulness resulted in his rescue from certain death and reminded him of God’s mercy toward him.

The lesson from this story is that when we feel overwhelmed and despairing, we must practice thankfulness even if it seems impossible. So, let’s make a point of being more grateful towards the end of this 2022 and beyond; let’s thank God for all of His blessings! I believe that one of the best ways to celebrate God’s blessings is by being grateful for them. When we are grateful, it shows our appreciation for what God has done for us and helps us keep our focus on Him. Then, as we continue to grow in our relationship with Him, we can be confident that He will bless us in amazing ways.

1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Grace means unmerited favor. Mercy is God’s undeserved kindness. We can receive these blessings only because of Jesus. His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins. One of the wonderful things about being a believer in Christ is that we can experience the joy of Thanksgiving every day. We can thank God for His love and protection, for His mercies that are new every morning, and for His never-ending grace. Remember, when we’re thankful, it sets God’s goodness free to be good to us. It prepares our hearts to receive His blessings.

Psalm 107 is a great Psalm of thanksgiving. It starts with the words, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” (verse 1) It lists some of the amazing things God has done for us. He has rescued us from danger, healed us, and provided for us. When we’re grateful, it not only blesses us, but it also blesses God. The Bible tells us that “God is pleased with the sacrifices of the righteous.” (Psalm 69:31). When we thank Him for what He has done, it brings Him pleasure. So be sure to give thanks to God this Thanksgiving. It will bless you in ways you cannot even imagine! Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.

Prayer:
Oh Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and loving kindness that is pauseless in my life. I am thankful for your steadfast love and mercy toward my family and me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.