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Hear the Word of the Lord: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  Paul understood the power of thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a command of God for every Christian.  It is an expression of humility and joy at the reception of the goodness of God manifested in the bestowal of His grace.  God’s grace is a windfall for every person who experiences it.  The goodness of God is overwhelming.  God’s grace saves us (Eph. 2:8-9) and it sustains us (II Cor. 9:8).
Since God’s grace is given to us on a daily basis, we should be thankful for everything we receive from Him.  This means a daily renewal of thanksgiving.
The Power of Thanksgiving To Transform Us (Its Humbling Effect)
When someone from whom you have no right to expect anything, gives you everything, it is a humbling experience.  God’s lovingkindness is like that.  It is grace.  God is its source.  God is infinite in His goodness.  When we taste of the heavenly gift (Heb. 6:4), the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, we are humbled.  The gift of God’s Son (John 3:16) is the unspeakable gift (II Cor. 9:15).  The gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is priceless!  Truly, the windows of heaven are opened to us.  Our salvation through Jesus, opens the door to every spiritual gift (Eph. 1:3).  All spiritual blessings are in Christ.  God withholds nothing.  He gives us everything.  Then, if we put the kingdom of God and His righteousness first in our lives, all of the temporal blessings are given to us (Matthew 6:33).  God saves us.  Then, He sustains us.  Both acts of God are humbling.  We know we are not worthy.  Yet, God enriches us with every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).
The Power of Thanksgiving To Connect Us To God (Its Reconciling Effect)
The goodness of God pulls us in God’s direction.  The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4-6).  He loved us first, then, if we respond to His love as we should, we love Him back (I John 4:19).  He manifests His long-suffering toward us (II Pet. 3:9).  He reveals His grace to us (Titus 2:11-12).  The impenitent despise the goodness of God.  The impenitent are also unbelievers.  Unbelievers harden their hearts against God.  But, at the same time, they act in such a way as to contradict their own best interests.  This is self-defeating.  It also denies God’s goodness.  The good and honest heart responds positively to God’s love and to His grace.  The human soul needs God’s saving power.  The human heart needs God’s grace.  Gratitude to God makes us look up to God from whence cometh our salvation.  We connect with God when we obey the commandments He has given to us through His Son in the New Testament–the Law of Christ (Rom. 8:1-2).  We can enter into covenant relationship with God by recognizing His goodness toward us and humbling ourselves in His sight.   Through thanksgiving we complete the circle of fellowship with God.  We recognize His goodness and receive it with meekness.
The Power of Thanksgiving To Change Our Perspective (Its Optimistic Effect)
Are you weary?  Are you heavy hearted?  Are you inundated by the evil that surrounds us?  Take heart, focus on God’s goodness.  Put on “God’s goodness” glasses and it will change your perspective.  Start by observing God’s blessings in your life.  Count your many blessings.  Name them one by one:  daily bread, shelter, clothing, answered prayers, material means, the good done to you by others, natural resources: sun, earth, rain, and the air we breathe, redemption, salvation, and justification to name a few.  We are truly rich toward God (II Cor. 8:9).  Do you describe yourself as rich?  Put on “God’s goodness” glasses and you will see just how blessed you really are.
The Power of Thanksgiving To Increase Contentment (Its Peacemaking Effect)
Covetousness is a robber.  It robs of inner peace.  It robs God of His rightful place in our hearts (Col. 3:5).  The insatiable appetites of the flesh war against the soul (I Pet. 2:11).  This struggle within us is resolved only when we can slay covetousness and replace it with contentment.  Godliness with contentment is great gain! (I Tim. 6:6).  Contentment is being satisfied with God’s sufficiency for our lives.  God’s sufficiency is His grace.  Our lives do not consist of the abundance of the things that we possess (Luke 12:15).  We need to be able to say, “It is enough.”  Only then, will we have peace.
The Power of Thanksgiving To Deepen Relationships (Its Unifying Effect)
Gratitude helps us recognize the value of others to us.  Gratitude cements relationships with others.  We recognize their value to us.  We need each other.  In I Cor. 12:14, Paul emphasizes that the body of Christ is comprised of many members.  Each of these members has a function.  But, it does not function just for itself.  It functions for the benefit of the whole body.  Our giftedness is a blessing to the whole body and is not to be a source of envy within the body of Christ. We are spiritual united in Christ when we are baptized into Christ (I Cor. 12:13).  We are spiritually united to each other.  Gratitude recognizes this fellowship and helps form a bond that keeps us united.  This interdependency in the body of Christ makes us stronger and more productive.
Gratitude is a powerful attitude that benefits us personally and positively affects all of our relationships.  Unleash this power in your own life and see how it affects your relationship with God, molds your own character, and strengthens relationships with others.