Entering A New Year With Thanksgiving

Oxford Dictionary describes thanksgiving as the expression of gratitude especially to God.

Happy New Year Guys and Welcome to 2018! It's a brand New Year and I'm beyond thrilled to be celebrating this New Year with all my loved ones, knowing that God is still God and He still holds me in the hollow of His hands.

Thanksgiving is one of the most uttered phrases in all of Christiandom and yet no matter how thankful we are, there's always still soo much more to be thankful for.

Often times we are too encumbered by our current situations and all the things we believe are wanting in our lives to just be grateful regardless. It's really not the easiest thing to do - give thanks when you are hurting or disappointed or in the middle of an unpleasant situation. It is natural to want to moan or be sad or at the very least not be 'compelled' to be grateful. But here's the thing, the natural and our natural inclinations are always in direct opposition to the spiritual and what we are called to do spiritually. 

I sincerely used to wonder if God understood how difficult it must be for us as human beings to be grateful when we are unhappy. In recent years though, I've come to understand that God has always expected us to tap into the ministry of the Holy Spirit to be grateful in-spite and despite circumstances.

For God thanksgiving more than being an action is an attitude. It is a way of life and a disposition that we are called to as children of God.

I actually used to misunderstand 1st Thessalonians 5:18 which says "In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  

I recall that one of the times I was reflecting on this scripture was when I had lost someone very dear to my heart and I just thought to myself, how on earth am I supposed to be grateful for all of this? But that wasn't what God was asking me to do.

God wasn't saying give thanks for the loss, He was saying even in the midst of the loss be grateful for all the other blessings that still are. For all the other loved ones still breathing, for hope even in the midst of sorrow, for shelter, food and even for the life of that dear one that I got to share in, if even for a little while.

I honestly think one of the many reasons God asks us to be grateful, in-spite of everything that is going wrong is that there is still always more going right even when it doesn't look that way. God is asking us to be grateful for all his numerous mercies and blessings that have kept us and minimised even those negative occurrences in our lives.  God wants to know that even when things don't go our way and life turns against us that we love Him enough to not turn against Him. God needs to know that we are not so faithless as to forget all the numerous times He has been faithful.

So He asks of us, right in the middle of every circumstance we are going through to give thanks and to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100).

For those of us who even as others celebrate in this New Year, have reason to be sad and feel unwilling to give thanks here are a few scriptures to remind us of why we ought to give thanks still;

1) His Mercies are everlasting, never failing

Psalm 100 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."

2) His loving-kindness towards you never fades

Psalm 136:32 "Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever."

3) Because that is exactly the state in which God will have us approach him

Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

4) Thanksgiving brings peace and answered prayers

Philippians 4:6-7 "Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus."

5) There is multiplication and Increase when we give thanks

John 6: 11 "Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he passed the bread to the people, and he did the same with the fish, until everyone had plenty to eat."

6) The Lord is your shield and your helper, He is worthy of your thanks

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."

7) He gave his only begotten son that even at the end of all ugliness we might still be Victorious

1st Corinthians 15:57 “Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."